Your home in Rome at the Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps - 9 October 2017
I've always loved staying in apartments when travelling. Not only do they have more space and privacy, you can actually feel like you're a local - even if it's for a make-believe short time. My October 2017 trip to Rome included one such local experience with four fabulous nights at this apartment:
https://www.spanishstepsapartment.com/
The apartment is in an historic building and is owned by David and Laura, who live in Washington DC but rent out their Rome home to travellers keen to experience a long term stay and immerse themselves in the real Rome. David is Italian born and this is his childhood home, so the family connection adds an extra special element to your stay. The apartment is on Via delle Mercede - an incredibly convenient location, 5 minutes from the Spanish Steps and 7 minutes to the Trevi Fountain. You are literally in the middle of all the action and sights.
Looking along Via delle Mercede
Main bedroom - beautiful floors, double glazed windows and its own air-con unit
The second bedroom, also with its own air-con unit
The entry - just beyond this door are one flight of stairs to the foyer and the street.
There is also an elevator which is handy if you have heavy luggage.
Fully equipped kitchen with brand new washer/dryer
There is a full sized refrigerator and stove/cooktop (see the website link for more photos)
The main bathroom has a full-sized bathtub - and look at that shower rose! It feels like a gently running waterfall
Second bathroom
The apartment even has its own dining room complete with a great supply of card and board games
For a greater selection of photos, see the weblink to the official website - I'm afraid my personal photos just don't do this beautiful apartment justice.
It is perfect for a family and I believe it would also suit those with limited mobility as the apartment is reached by elevator, is all on one level and is very spacious. The personal touches make it special - such as the iPad loaded with apps on Rome, the Rome themed DVD's, the many guide books and information on Rome, umbrellas, the excellent information on the local area and restaurants and my personal favourite - the white noise machine in the main bedroom (although the apartment is so quiet you may not need it). I also loved the decorative movie posters and it was fascinating to find out that David, the owner, was a child actor in these films.
I am not exaggerating when I say you can walk everywhere from here. The Spanish Steps is only minutes away but during my stay I walked as far as St. John Laterno (a distance of almost 4km/2.5 miles) as well as walking to Trastevere, the Colosseum, Roma Termini, Palazzo Barberini and the Vatican. There is a Coop grocery store around the corner and it's an enormous one - full of fresh bread, seafood, salad, cheeses, salami, vegetables and wine/beer. I would always drop in here on my way back 'home' and stock up on something delicious. I didn't eat out for dinner but always ate lunch out - David has some exceptional recommendations for restaurants in his information pack. One that is very close by is this place:
Pastificio is only a 300 metre walk from the apartment and you'll probably have to stand in line before they open at 1.00pm but it's worth the wait. The pasta is only 4 euro and tastes sublime. If you're there early enough there are benches for you to stand and eat, plus carafes of water and plastic cups - otherwise take your pasta back to the apartment and enjoy there - it's so close it won't possibly get cold. If it does, pop it in the microwave.
David couldn't have been a better host. Communication was prompt and clear, the apartment was spotlessly clean with a cloud-soft bed in the main bedroom and luxurious sheets and towels. I had some time between check-out and my flight leaving and David graciously allowed me to stay five hours past check-out time so I wouldn't be inconvenienced with having to find somewhere to store luggage. It was wonderful to have that extra time to rest before the long-haul flight home.
I can't recommend this apartment more highly. It has everything you could possibly need for your home away from home in Rome.
Kathy
October 2017
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