Rome is a great city for spotting frescoes, but these mainly date back hundreds — if not thousands — of years. This apartment in the San Saba neighbourhood of the city shows that the tradition is far from long-dead. In the living room and many of the bedrooms, a modern variation on the wall paintings can be seen, adding colour and a sense of grandiosity to the interior.

Elsewhere, the design is wonderfully contemporary, particularly the curvy white dining chairs, sleek burgundy kitchen and equally pristine bathrooms. Another standout feature has to be the large private terrace, which has plenty of seating on which to enjoy the peace and quiet of this residential neighbourhood.

When you're in the mood for sightseeing, possibly the most famous fresco in the world — Michaelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel — takes just under twenty minutes to reach by taxi, but there are other notable attractions a bit closer, too. The Baths of Caracalla are ten minutes away on foot and the Colosseum takes about double that time.

Home truths:
*A cot can be provided if required
*There's an elevator to reach this single-level apartment on the first floor
*The building has no private parking, but Piramide and Roma Porta S. Paolo are five minutes' walk away
*Pets are permitted