The Spaceship

There's much more than meets the eye when it comes to this Roman retreat. Behind its historic facade lies a striking modern apartment over two levels, recently renovated and so quirky you'll want to start taking photos before you've unpacked. Location-wise, it couldn't get much better, with Piazza Navona and the Pantheon within an easy ten-minute walk. You'll enter through a traditional shared courtyard, bursting with historic features, but as soon as you open the front door you'll spot the complex, architect-designed interior – complete with structural steels, a clever mezzanine level in the building's loft and all sorts of surprising features. Think glass sections in the mezzanine floor, a metal staircase, studio workspace, angular windows and space-age lighting. But it's practical too, with everything you'll need for a comfortable stay.

Home truths:
*While it can hold three people, this is essentially a studio apartment with a mezzanine so it is quite cosy – there's no separate living room
*As seen in the pictures, the shower is very small
*There aren't any bedside tables
*There is no lift in the building and the apartment is on the first floor – up some fairly uneven stone steps
*A cot is available if you're bringing a little one
*You'll find details of Rome's mandatory recycling collections in the home
*The bathroom is on the mezzanine level but there's a second WC on the main floor
*There's a shared entrance via the courtyard
*A central spot, there's no parking here – but the host can recommend paid parking garages nearby if needed