Sleep in the Shadow of the Colosseum.

By Posted in - Italy & Rome & Travel Blog on July 16th, 2013 The bridge near our Colosseum Rome apartment in Italy.

Our first time in Rome we rented what was essentially a room in a three-bedroom apartment billed as a bed and breakfast. The room was a hot mess at best, and breakfast was non-existent. For the life of me I can’t remember the name, but I’m sure it is not the only Rome apartment being pimped out on the internet as a something it is not.

It was 2010 and our first jaunt to Europe. We had no idea about the joys of vacation apartments. Fast forward to this spring. We were heading back to Rome for two nights with Beth’s cousin, and, knowing the benefits of having an apartment compared to a hotel or hostel, especially with multiple people, we decided to book a place through GowithOh.

The street in front of our Colosseum apartment in Rome with GowithOh.

Via Della Polveriera runs right past the front door and smack dab into a panoramic view of the ancient Colosseum.

Since that initial trip to Rome, we’ve stayed in half a dozen apartments. In that time, I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to tell the good from the bad when searching online. So, when I came across this Rome apartment near the Colosseum, I got excited–all signs pointed to a winner.  See one thing I learned early on is that the combination of pictures and your imagination can be a dangerous thing. I remember this apartment Beth and I thought about renting on the coast of Tijuana years ago. On Craigslist (and in our mind) it looked ideal. That all changed, however, when we went to check it out. The apartment was so far from what we had imagined, it was scary–literally.

Related: 30 photos from Rome that will make your mouth water.

Well, I’m happy to report that this Rome apartment did not disappoint. Not only did it live up to its online profile, but this first floor apartment (that’s the second floor in Europe; there is no elevator) was even better in the flesh, partly because of its long wraparound terrace that leads out to a patio. Inside, the décor is modern and accented with period pieces, like the sofa in the lounge, as well as high ceilings and windows throughout the space. The design works well to create a nice place to come home to after a long day of touring the city. The one bedroom rental features a double bed as well as a double sofa bed in the living room. One thing the apartment doesn’t have is a TV; however, there are  a couple of desks in the living room where you could set up your laptop. The kitchen also has a table–perfect for morning and late night espresso conversations.

We really enjoyed the two nights we had in the apartment. The place felt authentic and made for a great base to explore the city from. Overall, it’s a really easy place to recommend for your stay in Rome, especially if you plan to tour the Colosseum or Palatine Hill.  In fact, the Colosseum is only about a 5 minute walk away and the photo of the Colosseum (above) was taken from right down the street – maybe a 30 second walk. The location of this apartment is fantastic because you are so close to the major sites!

The apartment requires a minimum two night stay and starts at $47/pp in the low season. If you are traveling with a small pet, they can stay for no additional charge (love that!). For more details or to book this vacation rental, you can see the listing here.

Location.

It’s hard to beat an apartment that is this close to the ancient Colosseum. The rental is a five minute walk from the Colosseo metro stop on line “B”, a main transit stop in the city. If you are looking to be in the heart of entertainment, then this isn’t it; however, that is not to say that you shouldn’t stay here. The apartment is set in the historic Monti neighborhood and its location makes it easy to walk, grab a taxi or hop the subway to a more lively section of town. Additionally, there’s a spot on a bridge, just a 100 hundred yards or so from the rental, where you can take in a peaceful panoramic of the Coliseum without the crowds.

Ideal Guest.

This one bedroom, which features a pull out couch in the living room, is well suited for small families or a group of four people looking for a quite getaway from the busy metropolis. The apartment features a full kitchen with everything you need to cook at  home. And the terrace is a perfect place to escape the hustle of Rome and enjoy a quite evening with some wine and cheese or a homemade meal with ingredients bought from one of Rome’s famous produce markets, like Campo de’ Fiori. Because of heavy rains the patio table and chairs were put away, but believe me when I tell you that the spot shown in the last picture above would be an awesome place to dine.

Design Notes.

The exposed wood beams and loft (it is just for show) in the living room gives the space a sophisticated cabin look, while the kitchen and bedroom have a brighter feel to them. The apartment was clean upon our arrival and everything functioned properly.  In the bathroom, there is a bathtub ( a rarity in Italian apartments) and a separate shower.  The vacation rental also features WiFi. However, because of the building ‘s thick walls, it worked better in some rooms, in particular the kitchen, than others.

What is your favorite thing about staying in vacation rentals when you travel?

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first. Thanks!
*Disclosure: While we were hosted by the great folks at GowithOh, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.

(6) awesome folk have had something to say...

  • Diane GowithOh -

    July 16, 2013 at 3:18 am

    Hey Beth & Randy!

    These photos are outstanding & such a fun read!
    We were so happy to have you finally GowithOh, glad you enjoyed your stay! We wish you many more adventures to come! 🙂

    • Randy Kalp -

      July 16, 2013 at 3:45 am

      Thanks Diane! It was such a fantastic place to start our week adventure through Italy with Beth’s cousin. He had never been before, so you can imagine his surprise when we got off at the Colosseo metro stop and he ran smack into the ancient Colosseum. Things only got better when I told him we were only a few minutes away from the apartment. My only complaint from our time in Rome is that we didn’t have a chance to cook up a nice homemade meal in the kitchen and then enjoy it on the terrace with a bottle of wine. Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to go back sometime.
      🙂

  • Shawna -

    July 16, 2013 at 3:24 am

    That apartment is absolutely beautiful! It looks gorgeously decorated and just lovely to live in. I’ve just been introduced to the whole vacation apartments idea so I haven’t been able to use one just yet, but it certainly is something I’ll be looking into in the future!

  • Sofie @ Wonderful Wanderings -

    July 17, 2013 at 1:23 am

    Super informative. I’m sure it’s a nice apartment, but you guys make it look amazing!
    Can I ask how you edit your photos? Programs and such:)

    • Bethany Salvon -

      July 17, 2013 at 5:40 am

      Hi Sofie, Thanks for commenting and for your compliments. It was an easy place to photograph. 🙂 I edit all of my photos with Photoshop – hope this helps! 🙂

  • Diane GowithOh -

    July 19, 2013 at 1:31 am

    Randy, that sounds like a real adventure! The Colosseum is certainly surprisingly large the first time you see it in real life.
    And YES you need to return to make an Italian meal & wine on the balcony is a MUST!