Appartamento Nonno Giulio is a basic but pleasant apartment in the heart of Trastevere, just 5 minutes from the main piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere with its beautiful gold-facade church. The apartment has 1 bedroom with a queen bed, and 2 single beds that can be situated in the same room. The sleeping arrangement works better for a family or a group of friends (or just one couple booking the apartment). Nonno Giulio also has a small kitchenette, a living room, and a small bathroom. Amenities include central heating, fans in the summer (though the apartment stays relatively cool in the summer anyway, as the walls are very thick), hair dryer, TV, and WiFi. The apartment is located on the first floor (with elevator) of a residential building and is managed by the owner who also runs the Bernardon Guesthouse across the hall and is often there to help with any questions or suggestions.

Trastevere, meaning "across the river", is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Rome -- first inhabited by the Etruscans, and then, once conquered by Rome for control of the river, by fishermen, sailors, Jews and Syrians as early as 500 BC. It was never as developed as the rest of Rome, only getting actual paved streets in the middle ages. The houses were small and inhabited mostly by poor immigrants. The effect, which is so revered now, is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets and small, quaint buildings. It often is considered the "Village" or "Soho" of Rome, which is a bit misleading in my opinion. On the one hand, it is a very picturesque neighborhood, filled with so many restaurants and cafés that an entire guide could be filled just on Trastevere alone. It's also well-connected to the center either by foot or by the tram that runs down Viale Trastevere to Largo Torre Argentina. However, the downside is that it can be a bit grungy - homeless people with their dogs, graffiti and litter can make the area look a lot less appealing that many guidebooks make it sound. If you want the experience of "old Rome" though, and want to explore all the shops and cool local businesses, it really can't be beat.