Neptune's Eye

Neptune's Eye: Lazio

The terraces of this beautiful apartment overlook Piazza Navona, a lively square of gothic architecture and a neoclassical fountain at its heart. Cafés and restaurants spill onto the pavement and you can watch the street artists from your nest on high. It’s a real suntrap too, so loungers have been set up alongside the dining table and outdoor sofa. Inside, terracotta tiles and high ceilings create a cooling escape from the city heat, and houseplants stand out against pristine white walls. A little 60s-style bar in the living room is the best place to knock up an evening cocktail as you put your favourite song on the wireless speaker. Don’t worry about navigating your way to the Pantheon (a five-minute stroll) or the Roman Forum and Colosseum (a fifteen-minute walk) as the host provides a smartphone with unlimited international calls and internet, so you can stream maps and call a taxi without any hassle.

Home truths:
*To reach the lift, there's a flight of ten stairs
*The bars and shops outside are a little touristy
*The fourth bedroom is an open mezzanine, while the fifth has windows into the living room