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> SlowTrav > Italy > Vacation Rentals > Reviews > Rome Review 1990: My Rome, Ciancaleoni
Studio apartment in the Rione Monti, Rome WhenJune, 2005, one month LocationThis tiny studio apartment is located in the Rione Monti. Monti is primarily a residential area wedged between Santa Maria Maggiore, Via Cavour, and the Forums. Via de Ciancaleoni is a narrow lane which first climbs up a hill and then a staircase before turning the corner and wandering on to Via Panispera. The apartment is in a narrow, old building at the bottom of the staircase. It is on the third floor (U.S.). There is no lift. While the surrounding area is full of busy streets, this little lane is very quiet. Most of the noise came from people on the stairs outside; most people were passing by, but sometimes the steps were a hang-out place. I really enjoyed the "neighborhood" feeling of Monti. I loved wandering the streets and looking in the shops. After a few days, people begin to greet you in the street and want to practice their English with you. I found everyone I met helpful and interested in my having a great stay in their neighborhood. Nearby AmenitiesSmall stores are located on the nearby streets. There is a supermarket nearby, but I never got around to going there as everything I needed was available in the neighborhood stores. The Piazza ai Monti is about two blocks away. It has a beautiful fountain and several cafes and restaurants either on the piazza or nearby. The busy streets surrounding the area (Via Serpenti, Via del Boschetto, Via Panispera, and Via Cavour) have many services available. The smaller streets are more pedestrian friendly and full of interesting shops, cafes, and restaurants. The House/ApartmentThe building appears rather shabby, but not so much that it looked out of place on the street. The entrance is flanked by two potted plants and a huge, flowering bush is directly across the lane from the door. Once inside the entrance, you have to push the light timer to climb the stairs as there are no windows in the stairwell. There is a small landing in front of the apartment door, and the apartment seems to be the only one on this floor. A floor to ceiling closet is directly inside the door. The apartment is one room, with an ajoining bathroom. There is a fold out sofa bed and a kitchen nook with a drop leaf table and two chairs. There is a small refrigerator and a two burner electric stovetop. There is no oven. The bathroom has a toilet, sink, bidet, and shower. There is also a window in the bathroom. There is a ceiling fan, but no air conditioning. The apartment did not seem overly hot in June as it gets before noon sun and is shaded in the afternoon. GardenThere is not an outside area for this apartment. Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living AreasThe furniture was quite basic and in good repair. The apartment was cleaned weekly by an enchanting woman. I enjoyed practicing my Italian with her before I headed out to a neighborhood bar for some coffee so she could work. Bedrooms/BathroomsThe sofa bed was low to the floor, but comfortable. The linens were changed weekly. The bathroom is a bit cramped, but the shower was large. There was plenty of hot water. KitchenThe kitchen is an ell in the room. It is very basic. Enough housewares were provided to prepare simple meals. There is an electric stovetop, but no oven. If you anticipate preparing full, elaborate meals, this kitchen will not work out for you. Agency and Representatives (and price)The owner met me at the main entrance. He spoke excellent English. He explained how everything in the apartment worked. Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?If you are traveling solo, or are a couple who don't mind sharing a small space, this apartment might be for you. It is a nice, basic residence that I found to be great base for exploring Rome. Things to do in this areaThe neighborhood of Monti is wonderful for meeting all your daily needs. The historical center is a bus ride away. There is a metro stop (Cavour) nearby. The Colosseum is within walking distance as are Piazza Venezia and the Campidogio. I really liked being close enough to the Foro Romano that I could walk there at night to see the area all lit up! I found the local restaurants to be quite good. This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com. |
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