Casa Cau, ROme, Italy

As I walked to the Trevi Fountain late at night, after the hoards of tourists, selfie sticks, and tour groups had gone to bed, I thought about how grateful I was to be staying at this hidden oasis, Casa Cau. Just a stone’s throw away from one of the most visited attractions in all of Rome stands this unique 17th century residential building converted to a seven apartment hotel that has maintained all the charm and character of an authentic Roman apartment. Each room had been thoughtfully designed and included various antique and vintage items from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. The interior design displays old-world charisma appropriate to the architecture, but included all the modern comforts of home. The owner and I shared similar opinions when it comes to finding unique accommodation when traveling to new places. “We are all aware that the best way to travel is to stay with friends. When we do, we go back with an authentic piece of the place we’ve been, with the feeling, however brief of having become part of the local scene.”