Livia was very responsive to all our communications leading up to and during our 10-day stay. We arrived mid-day and were met by Livia`s parents. They were very welcoming and friendly. We greatly enjoyed meeting them. Livia also called in from work to welcome us and assure us that she was available to help with any of our needs. Livia had lists of nearby supermarkets, laundry, doctors, and restaurants. We tried 2 of Livia`s restaurant recommendations and the Casa Coppelle, in particular, was our favourite of all our Roman dining experiences.

The apartment was very comfortable. In fact, the comfortable seating and warm glow from the many table lamps made it one of the most enjoyable places we have stayed. It is not as large as it appears in the pictures but it is more than big enough. This is not an issue. The apartment was clean for the most part (sparkling floors and bathroom) but there was some dust in spots and the kitchen cupboards and door pulls needed to be cleaner. We fixed both those problems in about 10 minutes with the cleaning supplies in the apartment. I suspect that because of our early arrival, that the cleaner may not have had enough time after the previous checkout to do as thorough a job as they may have otherwise.

The location is perfect. We walked everywhere but a Metro station is nearby and we used it to visit the Colesseum, the Sistine Chapel and, twice, the Andrea Doria market for fresh fish, produce and meat. We could also walk up to the Pincio and Villa Borghese Gardens - a good healthy uphill climb from the Piazza Popolo well rewarded with spectacular views and beautiful, tranquil gardens.

The area is upscale, safe and clean. The Via Babuino is mostly high-end retail with the Spanish Steps at the south end and the Piazza Popolo on the north. The piazza is a great place to sit at the end of the day and have an aperativo while people watching. The street is very busy during the day but miraculously becomes very quiet in the evening when the shops close.

When we are next in Rome, we will be sure to stay with Livia again.