Caramella

Caramella: Lazio

Natural light fills pretty much every corner of this apartment – a real feat, considering it's tucked down a Trastevere alleyway. Inspired by Joch's Dutch roots, expect to find white-washed wood floors, crisp cream walls and cleanly-designed furniture inside. You'll feel an immediate sense of calm and serenity as you step through the front door, but there's plenty of character, too – think leafy plants, colourful cushions, shelves lined with art books and Joch's photos hanging in the bedroom. After a long day, we loved resting our feet on the blue chaise lounge with a glass of wine (Joch leaves a bottle for you to enjoy on arrival), listening to podcasts on the built-in wireless speakers and catching up on our favourite shows on Netflix and Apple TV. It's a true home from home, right in the heart of the city.

And most of all, we loved the location. Trastevere is one of the most charming neighbourhoods in Rome, where excellent restaurants, chic bars and local galleries are hidden down cobblestone streets. All the must-see sights are within walking distance, so exploring on foot is easy, whether you want to people watch in Piazza Navona (fifteen minutes away), learn about the city's history at the Roman Forum (a twenty-two-minute stroll) or make a wish at the Trevi Fountain (walkable in twenty-five).

Home truths:
*At full capacity, two guests will be on futons in the living room
*The shower's only 180cm high – tall guests may have to duck a bit
*The downstairs doesn't get as much natural light as upstairs, but it's still quite bright – please note that the stairs are quite steep
*Only the bedroom has air conditioning
*This is a lively area, but soundproof windows keep street noise to a minimum
*Due to safety reasons, guests aren't allowed to use the fireplace
*Children under 10 years old aren't allowed
*With narrow, cobblestone streets, parking in this neighbourhood is tricky – we suggest sticking to the easily accessible public transport and exploring on foot instead of driving
*Expect to see some signs of general wear and tear here