It was our second visit to this spacious and airy apartment in Rome's Rione Monti area. On our first visit in 2011 there were just two of us. This time we were back with family in tow (five of us total) to dig deeper into this fascinating area of Rome.

Being on three levels, this well-equipped apartment delivers ample space for everyone. It is situated within the medieval Palazzo Ciancaleoni on one of Rome's most adorable small streets ... and has been luxuriously and thoughtfully updated. Modern kitchen amenities, a roomy dining area and washer & dryer kept everyone well-fed, refreshed and clean. That washer & dryer were kept busy ... and we never needed to track down an outside laundry for our group. First-floor master bedroom and gorgeous master bath were for us. Main-floor sofa bed was for a family member. The second-floor loft bedroom with separate bath was staked out by our grown sons. Everyone had their own comfortable space. A spectacular third-floor terrace with access through a sliding skylight let everyone get together and enjoy the sunshine.

Our Roman friends were able to join us on the terrace a few times for a glass of wine, with lots of comments like "Buonissimo ... Bello!" This beautiful terrace was one of our favourite aspects of this apartment. Open to the sky but with a feeling of tranquility, it was a great spot to get together and swap the day's travel tales.

If you're looking to really get to know the centre of Rome, this apartment lets you explore the interesting streets of the Monti area, stroll to the Colosseum or Forum in just a few minutes, hop on the Cavour metro with only a two-minute walk ... and much more. You can easily walk here from the Termini Station. It was an ideal location for all of us.

One of the reasons we returned to the Ciancaleoni Loft for a second time was the professionalism and helpfulness of Marida and her staff at Nostromondo. Communications to make our booking were excellent. Marida was always very easy to reach when we had questions, and her after-stay follow up was spot-on. This is a team that knows what they're doing, and Ciancaleoni Loft is a reflection of the attention to detail that they provide.

Buonissimo! We'll definitely be back. Grazie, Marida, for another lovely stay.