It’s easy to work out where the owner found inspiration for this gallery-like apartment – all you need to do is wander around the local neighbourhood of Monti. Bustling cafés, ornate architecture, and ancient grandeur is all around. A nine-minute stroll in either direction will take you to two of the city’s most majestic sights – the Colosseum and the Foro Romano. With antiquity and arts all around you, the theme continues as you return home. Many of us are content with painting walls in a calming, neutral tone, but the owner of this apartment had bigger plans. In a nod to the frescoes of the city, the walls are painted in trompe-l'œil effect – with clever positioning of the mirrors, the artwork appears in 3D. While the kitchen tiles and dining table have also enjoyed some brushwork, and this art project was just one effort in the restoration of this nineteenth-century home. We love the terracotta-coloured tilework, adorned by vintage pieces of furniture dotted throughout the living space and bedroom. Pad across tiles and decorative rugs towards the double doors – this scene isn’t an optical illusion. You’ve got a private balconette with colourful flowers and scenes of Roman streets below. Is there any better spot for a chilled glass of prosecco? Home truths: *There's no private parking, but you can pay for parking on the street – or the Cavour metro station is just a two-minute walk *There’s no dedicated workspace, but plenty of laptop-friendly spots *The apartment is on the second floor of a building with a lift – however, there are steps within the home you'll also need to navigate *You'll have a local mobile phone in the apartment with free calls to your host, in case you need to reach them for any reason *The main entrance is not private, but shared with other residents *This home isn't suitable for children under two years of age *There are Rome guidebooks and maps in the apartment already to save you bringing these in your luggage