The Duchess is a comfortable place with lots going for it, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t start with that view. A city like Rome is full of views, but even so, this one is special, and the terrace itself is beautiful, with the furniture, the awning and the flowers all around (in summer, at least). This, along with the various antiques inside, makes you feel as if you’re in a Rome that existed 200 years ago, one that’s since been lost.


Home truths:
*The lift is pretty small – you can just about fit a person and a suitcase in it
*When we visited, we found a bit of limescale in the shower and the bathroom in this home is quite small - you will need to pack your own toiletries
*You have to pass through the living room to get between the bedroom and bathroom
*Two people will be on a sofa bed in the living room