Rome apartments and villas for rent

Rome Navona - Campo de' Fiori

"The Turtles' Dream" - elegant 4 double bedroom apartment with terrace, hosting 4 - 8 persons

Overview

Spanish

French


Russian

Elegant, bright 4 bedroom residence in beautiful historical palace overlooking the Turtle Fountain.
4 ample double bedroom, 3 bath, amazing frescoed sitting room w. antique coffered wooden ceiling, large dining-kitchen, terrace. Elevator.
High ceilings, tasteful furniture, modern appliances, all mod cons. Stately, but inviting, cozy and cheerful apartment, it accommodates 4-8 persons in real beds.

  • Elevator
  • Air conditioning / heating in each room
  • Internet Wi-Fi high speed internet
  • Colour TV with satellite dish
  • Complete kitchen equipment
    Washing machine, clothes dryer, iron, iron board, dishwasher
  • microwave, mixer (blender), toaster, electr. scales
  • Italian coffee pots, American coffee percolator, Tea kettle

To Rome centre map, for the exact location.

Visit also:

 

To enquire, please write to:

[email protected]

Very few properties are capable to bewilder at first sight, yet also to make its guests become enamoured of it. The Turtles' Dream apartment has these qualities: it combines unobtainable elegance with charm, the class of an aristocratic palace with cosiness, historical character with cheerfulness and modern convenience.

"The Turtles' Dream" is a large, wonderful apartment taking up the high floor of the famous Costaguti Palace in Rome, situated in the square Piazza Mattei, where you find perhaps Rome's finest fountain: the Turtle Fountain, or Fontana delle Tartarughe (by Taddeo Landini, 1581-1588).

Right photo: the Turtle Fountain. All the windows of the highest floor of the palace belong to the apartment, and face the fountain.

The Fountain is so famous that many copies were built in the world (4 only in the USA). You will be able to see the original from your windows at all times.

The apartment is part of the historical Costaguti Palace, one of Rome's most famous. It is owned by the same family since 1578. They will be your hospitable and courteous hosts.

The entrance is directly from the main gate of the palace, which has a concierge. The square and the palace are located in the heart of old Rome, between the two districts Campo de' Fiori and the Jewish Ghetto, near Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.

The Turtle Fountain Fontana delle Tartarughe and Palazzo Costaguti

All Rome's sights are either around the palace, or at walking distance and can be easily be reached on foot. The neighbourhood springs up with artisans' shops, restaurants, cafes, shops and groceries of all kinds. The people of the quarter are very friendly and helpful.

Past the gate of the palace one can either take the historical stairs or the elevator, reaching in both cases direcly the landing of the apartment.

As you step in, you are immediately stupefied by the splendid, inviting and nevertheless cosy sitting room (left photo).

Left: the wonderful sitting room, past the entry door.

The décor is outstanding. The floors are paved with special old "Graniglia" tiles, made of inclusions of different marbles bonded, and which render a mosaic effect.

The original wooden coffered ceiling is decorated ingeniously. In each of the 168 frames there is a painting of a different species of bird.

Beneath the ceiling, in the perimetral walls you find beautiful frescoes of peacocks, spaced out with the coat of arms of the Costaguti family.

 

 

The room is elegantly furnished.

You find two large sofas, a wooden table, a wonderful chest of drawers, and a stylish table just past the entry door.

The room is also equipped with a high quality HD LCD 37 inches colour TV, broadcasting all intl' channels by means of cable-satellite.

As the right photo shows, the room is also decorated with paintings and old prints, by lamps, and by a coat stand.

As you can see, the sitting room leads also to the other rooms (there is also a second entry door leading to them, near the main entry door).

Opposite view of the sitting room, with glimpse of the dining room - kitchen. Notice the wonderful floor, and the cosy old wooden door.

 

 

The wooden coffered ceiling is mesmerising.

As mentioned, you find 168 coffered frames, each with the painting of a different species of bird (left photo, inside you find more photos about the ceiling).

The paintings were restored over the centuries, and thus their colours are vivid to this day. The last renovation of the paintings occurred 6 years ago.

Please look the lower part of this page for more details about this room.

Kindly remember that this is also just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property.

The other rooms of the apartment can be reached, as mentioned, either through the sitting room, or through a second entry door.

The dining room - kitchen is simply brilliant.

It is very large, bright, with a classical design, excellent decor, yet charming and with a homely feel.

The kitchen furnitures, its cabinets and all the appliances are brand new.

Left: the dining room and the kitchen.

Together, the dining room and the kitchen surface is 40 Sq. Mts. (app. 430 Sq. Ft.).

The floor tiles, and also those of the kitchen, are still made of "graniglia", yet with a different design, following the tradition of the region of Naples (producing the finest Italian tiles).

The room is endowed with three large windows. Two overlook the street Via dei Falegnami, while one overlooks Piazza Mattei and the Turtle Fountain.

You can also notice the beautiful, large courtains, matching the colours of the tiles.

 

The opposite photo (left) shows the large size of the room, or actually, of the two rooms, as the dining room in fact is larger than the kitchen.

You can also see that both rooms are endowed with elegant crystal chandeliers in the ceiling, and with fine perimetral wall lamps, whose colours match those of the tiles and of the courtains.

Fine paintings of old masters, with beautiful gilded frames, complete the décor.

The furniture and the cabinets of the kitchen are brand new.

The kitchen - dining room can comfortably sit up to 8 persons.

 

This closer photo to the right shows a detail of the dining room.

The kitchen and dining room were once separated, until they were joined to form a larger, more enjoyable and more functional space, also enhancing its elegance.

This room also interconnects with the sitting room, and with the passage room leading to the bedrooms.

The dining room and the kitchen are equipped with complete cutlery, dishes, chinaware, glassware, pots, pans.

The following pictures show some of the complete, remarkable equipment and appliances.

The kitchen sitting area is ample, elegant, modern.

 

It is also airy and bright, with views of old Rome roofs, churches, and of the Turtle Fountain, which can be seen through its large, high windows.

The table is ample, and can sit several persons.

On one side, as you can see in the foreground of this photo, it has ample drawers where to store food and appliances.

The kitchen is also remarkably equipped.

In these photos we prepared the equipment to enable you to see it.

Top: American coffee percolator and mixer / blender

Left (from left to right): fridge, freezer, traditional oven, 2 sinks, dishwasher, microwave oven-griller, electronic scales, lemon squeezer, toaster, coffee pot, tea kettle).

This is just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property.

THE FOUR BEDROOMS

They are all elegant and impeccable, each having a different character.

MASTER BEDROOM

The master bedroom is large and just beautiful.

Its two large windows face Piazza Mattei and from them you can see directly the Turtle Fountain, and also the figurative features of the Costaguti Palace.

Like in any room the ceiling is high, and it is decorated with a green fillet (fascia), and by a stucco work.

The floor is wonderful, made of graniglia tiles with Amalfi-Neapolitan design (this region produces the most beautiful Italian tiles), with different shades of green and yellow.

 

 

 

The furniture is simple yet extremely elegant. In the right photo, you can see the ample bed and an old chest of drawers.

This room is endowed with an en-suite bathroom, (please click the link to see it).

As you can see in the right photo, the tiles have an original interplay, as they decorate also part of the walls. This interlaces all decorative features, enhancing the décor, and making it appear as a whole.

You find also paintings, bed side tables with their lamps, and a HD LCD colour TV.

 

 

This other photo of the master bedroom is taken from its entry.

It shows its small lobby, presently only a charming space with lamps and paintings, yet it will soon have other interesting decorative features.

As you can see, also in the lobby the floor tiles interlace with the wall.

In this photo you can also see the elegant glass chandelier, and from the right window you can see indistinctly another side of the facade of the Costaguti Palace, with its ashlar-work and its refined cornice.

 

The right photo shows the bathroom of this room.

As you can see, it is ample, spotless, impeccable, and with wonderful décor.

The tiles have same colours and style of the ones of the bedroom, yet with different design.

You find two sinks, for comfort and increased functionality.

Please visit this page for a detailed presentation of the bathrooms.

Remember, this is just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property.


SECOND MATRIMONIAL BEDROOM

It has on purpose a different style from the master bedroom, but it is no less elegant, inviting and comfortable.

It is a very bright room, and the brightness is enhanced by its light grade and by the large, light curtains.

The décor entails a perimetral red fascia, stucco-work, and like in all rooms, elegant graniglia tiles.

The furniture is simple yet refined, it includes a chest of drawer, a chair, and a built-in closet.

A chandelier, fine lamps and paintings complete the room.


 

This bedroom, like the master one, has an en-suite bathroom.

The tiles and the decor match that of the bedroom.

You find an ample shower enclosure, presently with a curtain, yet soon a glass shield with door will be installed.

 

This is just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property.

 

FIRST TWIN BED ROOM

The apartment comprises two twin bed rooms. They have different character, furniture and style.

The first one is near the two matrimonial bedrooms.

The design and general layout is similar to the second matrimonial bedroom, but the theme colour is olive green, as it matches with the a cornice in "Peperino" stone, a feature of the palace. This stone, obtained from quarries in the Roman Castles, is rare as it is not mined anymore.

The ceiling fascia, the elegant "graniglia" tiles are also of green olive colour.

From the window you see as usual Piazza Mattei, the Turtle Fountain, and also old "palazzi", churches, and the roofs of old Rome.

 

SECOND TWIN BED ROOM

This room is quite different from the others, yet it is no less elegant and charming.

It is somewhat cosier, and thus more suitable for young people.

The colour theme is again red, which colours the bed heads, and six lamps.

This room faces the terrace, and it thus bright like all other rooms.

You also find a cosy old wooden desk and chair, perfect to write postcards or to send emails with your laptop.

BATHROOM OF THE TWIN BED ROOMS

The bathroom of the two twin bed rooms is situated in a section of the property we have yet to photograph.

This section also includes the washroom, and a corridor. It is connected with the corridor of the twin beds room, and it also has a secondary entry door of the apartment. It will be shown soon.

The bathroom of the twin beds room is ample, and sparkling. It has a mixed classical / modern style.

As you can see, it is endowed with a shower enclosure, protected by a glass shield.

This is just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property.

THE TERRACE

The terrace endows the apartment with a relaxing and cosy place where to rest, to read a book while having a cup of tea, to write your travel reports, and naturally to hobnob with relatives and friends.

The patio is cozy to enjoy a glass of wine and for meals "al fresco"

The purpose of renting an apartment as opposed to a hotel is to socialize with relatives and friends, which would be impossible in hotel rooms.

A holiday in Italy would not be complete without a dinner "al fresco". There is no better place than enjoying it at your Roman home, instead of spending on expensive restaurants.

 

WINDOW VIEWS

Window view from the Turtles dream apartment: Palazzo Mattei, the Turtle Fountain, Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli
Window view from the rooms. From left to right you can see: Palazzo Mattei (built 1616), Via dei Funari (leading to Capitol Hill and to the Roman Forum), the famous Turtle Fountain considered one of Rome's finest, the Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli (in the distance), and below Via della Reginella (leading to the Jewish "Ghetto").

It is fun to watch from the windows of the apartment the flow of tourists visiting the fountain, each with a different behaviour.

This is just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property.

PALAZZO COSTAGUTI

The palace stands on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple, and later of a church. The palace replaced both, and was purchased by the noble Costaguti family in 1578.

The Costaguti ameliorated the palace through the ages, merging eventually with another noble family, the Afan De Rivera.

The palace is nowadays one of Rome's most distinguished historical palaces, and it is one of the very few still owned by the family after many centuries.

They are extremely kind and hospitable landlords, and they love to share their passion for history with guests.

Photo (right): The Costaguti Palace entrance and the Piazza Mattei slab seen from the Turtle Fountain.

Another facade of the palace faces a square which takes its name from it (Piazza Costaguti), yet the entrance today is from Piazza Mattei, near the Turtle Fountain.

 


 

<
Turtles' Dream apartment
<

 

The Turtles Dream apartment takes up the higher floor of the Palace, and its windows face directly Piazza Mattei and the Turtle Fountain, as the left photo show.

Initially instead of the turtles there were four dolphins (in addition to the four on which the slender youth stand). They were replaced with turtles in the renovation of 1654. Their author is unknown, many believe that they are Bernini's work.

We named the apartment "The Turtles' Dream" as the Turtles, climbing on the basin of the fountain, seem to want to reach the beautiful apartment just above them.

This is just the overview page: please go to the top index leading to the detailed presentation of the property

The "Turtles' Dream" apartment is endowed with elevator (you will not have to climb any steps!). We recommend that at least once you climb the grand stairs of the Palazzo.

 

 

The right photo shows a landing with access to three apartments of the "piano nobile".

Any detail is prepared with utmost care: columns, high-vaulted ceilings, capitals, steps, vases, lamps, tiles, doors, statues, bas-reliefs, benches to sit while climbing are impeccable.

The steps are also made of two types of marble: Carrara (from Tuscany), and Peperino from the Roman Castles. It is the one composing the steps to the right. It is now unobtainable, as it is not mined anymore.

Palazzo Costaguti Grand stairs

APARTMENT DECOR

The fillet, or decorated fascia stretching through the entire perimetre of the sitting room, just below the ceiling. It displays peacock couples, and also the coat of arm of the Costaguti family (three sharpened gilded stripes pointing towards three eight-pointed stars with blue background).

In the wall of the sitting room facing the windows, overlooking the street Via dei Falegnami, - top left photo - you find the coat of arms of the noble and kindest owners.
It is a composite coat of arms, as the family includes two branches (right photo). On its left side you find the Costaguti symbols (described above), in the centre you find the main symbol of the Afan de Rivera family (three horizontal green lines with a gilded background), which is the graphical representation of the Spanish slogan "Por la gracias de Dios" (By the grace of God). You also find the symbol of the Enriquez family, which merged at some stage within the dinasty (standing red lion and the two towers). In the lower part, you find the slogan of the Costaguti: "Evexit ad sidera virtus" (Latin), meaning "Virtue raised to the stars".

For a detailed presentation of the rooms, please go to the INDEX on top of this page

Campo de' Fiori Jewish quarter TortoisesCampo de' Fiori Jewish quarter TortoisesCampo de' Fiori Jewish quarter TortoisesCampo de' Fiori Jewish quarter TortoisesCampo de' Fiori Jewish quarter Tortoises

Visit Rome | Rome panoramic views | Rome apartments and villas | Inquire | Rome travel guide | Rome map | Service | Resources

Roman Homes homepage