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When we initially arrived in Rome, we were there for one short day as we were scheduled to depart on a cruise the following day.  The arrangements at the Bed & Breakfast known as La Papessa, had been made for the backend of the cruise, upon our return to Rome – so, though we had finally arrived in the Eternal City, we still had to wait 11 more days to experience our B&B! …though excitedly we did make a point of locating La Papessa that first night so we would know where we would be returning with the long-awaited taxi drop on that 12^th morning.  We absolutely loved the central location and couldn’t wait to get back!

This is not to say that the cruise was anything short of spectacular; however, the cruise ship does not count as a Bed & Breakfast, nor even borderline “inn”-ish, so for the sake of this commentary, use your imagination to fill in the gaps of an incredible trip to Italy, Greece, and Turkey as we fast forward to our SECOND arrival into Rome after the cruise.

Historic Rome is renowned for the Roman Forum and the ruins, with one of the most famous and chaotic traffic circles in the world, the Piazza Venezia located adjacent – watching this chaos is not for the faint of heart.  Just a couple blocks north on the main street of Via Del Corso is a quaint street (aren’t they all?), leading to a small Italian café and pizzeria (don’t they all have one?), and a large door with a brass wall plaque – La Papessa Guest House.  This is truly what “nestled” can feel like in a big place like Rome.

Entering the main door into the marble-floored front room of the building, we knew ahead of time that we would be encountering a lift – not an elevator mind you.  And this wasn’t just quaint Italian semantics, this was really a lift, with a cascading, telescopic steel frame that you must open before you can open the door of the chamber itself and step inside.  We literally squeezed ourselves in with our luggage, one on top of the other, and gingerly closed the door, looked at each other, laughed, pressed the button and started our slow ascent to the third floor.

The door for La Papessa was clearly marked and, upon knocking, we were greeted with a smile by Marcella.  She quickly got us acclimated to the front room that also served as the breakfast room and included a computer that was available for registered guests, along with some small tables and chairs with reading materials as well.  The guest house offers 4 air-conditioned rooms, each with its own bathroom, and either a courtyard or city view.  We were very pleased with our room, the L’Imperatore (The Emperor), comfortably appointed with a king bed, antique furnishings and a beautiful coffered ceiling – you can see these in our video tour.  It was extremely comfortable and with the large window opening 3 floors above to the Via Del Corso, we could choose to listen to (and watch) the busy city or have true solitude upon closing the windows.  Before we left to explore Rome for the day, we explained to Marcella that we would be out the door at dawn the next day as we were catching a train to Florence.  So, while we were gone Marcella prepackaged some breakfast items for us in our room (including a small loaf of bread for toast, some croissants and pastries, and two boiled eggs) so that we could grab and go in the morning.  It was such a nice convenience and we appreciated her attention to our needs. (By the way, I have YET to find similar croissants as tasty in our many travels – there was just something unique about them, with a little cinnamon and sometimes a light cream filling.  So good.)

Difficult as it is, we must respect that this is not a travel blog about our visit to Rome either and though we want to tell you EVERYTHING we experienced there, we will take a deep breath and remain focused on La Papessa.   The owner, Massimo Gentili, was gracious and made time to sit with us, educate us on the history of the guest house, the rooms and some of the furnishings and paintings that grace its walls.  In addition, his significant other, Catarina, also shared time with us and gave some of her perspectives on running the bed & breakfast.  Massimo explained that the origin of the name La Papessa comes from the legend of the female pope many centuries ago.  This was allegedly the home of the woman who rose to become Pope.  After our interviews for www.RomanceRoom.com were over, we were honored to be invited to their home for a glass of wine on their rooftop, some great conversation and interesting additional history about the city.  They also took us for an evening drive, taking us to some great viewpoints above the city as well as introducing us to the Jewish ghetto on the east bank of the Tiber, where Rome’s main synagogue still remains.  For all of you that know Andrew, it won’t surprise you to know that we didn’t leave the area until we circled back to a bakery were a scrumptious brownie had been spotted (no doubt for the road). J  Everywhere we went in Italy offered a culinary adventure – including Mary’s favorite Panini EVER – but more on that another time.

We very much appreciated the exceptional customer service, hospitality and attention to detail that we were shown at La Papessa, and based on other reviews we have read, this service is a normal occurrence and is simply how Massimo, Caterina and their staff have chosen to set themselves apart from other properties.  That kind of treatment is typically only found on the Private Concierge levels of a major hotel for which you pay dearly.  Here it is just included and these folks love to help, so just ask.

Lastly, we cannot emphasize enough the incredible convenience of La Papessa’s location – in the historical city center, we were literally around the corner from the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, and just a few blocks from the Spanish Steps.  All the key sites were within walking distance – the Colosseum,  Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, Campo de’Fiori and even Vatican City (if you have some good walking shoes on).  We found many eateries as we ventured through the streets, had some of the most fabulous Panini’s, savored authentic lasagna, enjoyed crazy-good espresso, got hooked on sparkling water and made sure we had gelato in every city we visited (or maybe I should say every neighborhood!).  We have to mention that, around the corner from La Papessa, we literally stumbled upon a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of Michelangelo’s pencil sketches of images that he would incorporate into his paintings in the Sistine Chapel – being displayed in public for only 9 days, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the completion of the project.  We felt so fortunate to have discovered it as it was an awe-inspiring experience and incredibly memorable!

As the saying goes – “location, location, location” – and when you combine that with the superior guest relations, the lovely guest rooms with all the necessary amenities, and the extra touches such as the extra effort made at breakfast, we highly recommend La Papessa.  Be sure to watch all of the videos, including the interviews with Massimo!

Andrew says: ”Rome has always been known as a truly unique place in the world with so much history.  Well, La Papessa feels the same way, especially with the legend of its origin.  The B&B has amazing service and is comfortable and clean, always appreciated in a large city.  Yet here, everything seems so close within walking distance.  What a fun place and the innkeepers will go out of their way to make your stay as unforgettable as possible!” 

Mary says: “I adore Rome!  And I loved La Papessa!  My only regret is that we did not stay longer, have more time to settle into our beautiful room and be able to take in even MORE of the flavors of this amazing city.  La Papessa is well-run and gave me a sense that they were prepared for anything, ready to offer assistance and guidance and ensure a good guest experience.  I know that is NOT to be taken for granted – and I hope, and know, we will visit again.”

Part 2

Below, we also have Innkeeper Interview – Part 2!  Gordon Watkins, the innkeeper at Inn at 410, shares more with RomanceRoom.com about his approach to making this property unique and creating an intimate experience for his guests.  In addition, he gives a great example of the special role the Inn has played in the lives of some recent guests (be sure to not miss the story toward the end about Elmer).  His passion for the property and his guests, is clear, making Inn at 410 one of the most romantic bed and breakfast inns.  Enjoy!

Don’t forget to see the original review and tour of the Inn at 410 filmed by RomanceRoom.com, which also has bonus footage of Inn at 410′s Tea Room, and was the first video released for this B&B.

We arrived at the Inn after normal check-in, so it was a great opportunity to experience how the innkeeper handled this type of check-in, which can sometimes be confusing for a guest at B&B’s.  Our experience was a good one – Gordon, the innkeeper, had clearly communicated what to expect and where we would find the key and our room location.  General information about the rooms, the inn, and the schedule for breakfast, etc. was prominently posted in the front room.  We were able to walk through the “living room” and breakfast area and get oriented to the house prior to heading to our guest room.  You will see in the videos that the common areas were so charming, decorated with antiques and comfortable furnishings that really reflected a homey, welcoming feeling.  There were cookies, tea and hot chocolate available to us as well – a nice touch that we appreciated at the later hour.

We stayed in The Conservatory, a room with the décor consistent with its name.  The video was shot as we walked into the room, so be sure to watch it to get a feeling for the space and the romantic vibe!  It was a beautiful room with a unique layout – including a fireplace in a nicely furnished sitting area, a canopied (and comfortable) bed, and steps up to the bath and vanity area.  As Gordon said in part of the interview, it is a room where a couple could hide out for days!  It was quiet, clean, comfortable and offered a very private and romantic experience.  We have also added bonus footage further down this article of The Tea Room.

The inn was easy to find and is located in a quiet area of town, within walking distance to a variety of restaurants (their website offers recommendations).  We loved the easy stroll to dinner and the change in scenery and weather!  We are so fortunate to have this escape only 2 hours from Phoenix!  The next morning there was a full breakfast served in the breakfast room, plenty of reading materials about area attractions and Flagstaff’s history, and places to sit (inside and out) to enjoy the surroundings and plan the day.

Why RomanceRoom.com recommends The Inn at 410:

Andrew says…Arriving on a cool night, it was nice to have the main house be warm and cozy.  We loved how large the rooms were with many even having their own spacious sitting area.  The main house and breakfast area is quite comfortable and overlooks the garden area.  It is all within a short walk to the downtown area and popular bars/restaurants.  Definitely a B&B to try ………. in the name of romance of course!

Mary says…Flagstaff is a town that offers a great change of pace, referring both to weather and to the pace of life in general.  The Inn at 410, with its location and clean, comfy accommodations, offers a great romantic getaway experience for couples.  Gordon has done a great job of making his vision of the inn a reality, reflecting the feeling of the turn of the 20^th century, with modern touches.  I would like to return and stay in one of the other rooms as they are all different and unique.  All around, a welcoming place with charm and warmth!

RomanceRoom.com recommends The Inn at 410 as one of the most romantic Bed and Breakfast Inns in Arizona.

As our bonus footage for this episode, check out the Tea Room at the Inn at 410.  It is another spacious room and is adjacent to the fireplace and main room, plus has a view over the garden area.

Innkeeper Interview with Gordon coming soon!

Also, be sure to watch RomanceRoom.com’s Tour of Casa Laguna Inn, along with the Innkeeper Interview Part 1 and the Innkeeper Interview Part 2.

Be sure to watch Part 1 as well – RomanceRoom.com interviews Casa Laguna Innkeeper Part 1.

Also, enjoy the Tour of Casa Laguna Inn which was the first video released. And finally, stay tuned for the bonus footage of The Cottage at Casa Laguna and a few photos of Laguna Beach.

Don’t forget to see the orginal tour of the Casa Laguna Inn filmed by RomanceRoom.com.

The terraced courtyard with the bistro tables and umbrellas (and a fountain to add yet another wonderful touch) is a place where you can read a book, sip some wine, eat your breakfast, or, as we discovered, help yourself to some tea or hot cocoa which is available all day on the patio.  What a nice and unexpected amenity!

Casa Laguna Inn has a pool and a Jacuzzi, but we never made it in.  We did however spend time in our lovely room, enjoying the clean, crisp linens and the comfortable bed.  Of course the fireplace created a little extra warmth and a lovely glow in the evening.  The bathrooms were also nicely done – clearly updated with a fresh and clean feel while maintaining the vintage appeal of this historic building with white tile and quaint decor.  The innkeeper cares and shows it with his attention to detail.

Now, let us explain something – Casa Laguna Inn was hands down, without a doubt, from the moment this website was conceived, THE inn we wanted to feature first.  So we struggled as to how to adequately convey what this place means to us.  Suffice it to say this inn provided us with one of the first places away from home as a couple – we were so glad to have found it and feel lucky to know about it.  To say it has a special significance to us is an understatement.  We adore Casa Laguna Inn.  Watching the video takes us back every time – that room is calling us and I’m sure we will have to acquiesce and treat ourselves again very soon.

Why RomanceRoom.com recommends Casa Laguna Inn:

Andrew Says…I’ll never forget walking through that gate and the glow on the door and discovering a private Shangri La.  The colors, the greenery, the umbrellas – and as we approached the building we even caught the aromas from the kitchen.

Mary Says…This place literally “takes you in” as soon as you walk through the gate.  I’m not sure that I can pinpoint why or how, but I can tell you that you feel like you are a houseguest, that you can let out a deep breath, find your little place that feels right, and just finally relax. And experiencing this with the person you love…amazing.   

RomanceRoom.com recommends Casa Laguna Inn as one of the most romantic Bed & Breakfast Inns in California.
 
 

Innkeeper Interview – coming soon

Bonus Footage – coming soon

Bonus – you won’t believe the private hideaway/cottage offered on this property as well. Video will be posted soon – check back!

Innkeeper interviews will be a regular feature on our site, providing you with a more personal experience.  Our interviews are different each time, with some offering insight into the history of the inn, while others might feature the excitement of recent improvements made to the inn.  But almost all include a personal story or two about a past guest and how their visit to the property created a special memory and unique experience.  We LOVE this place…and think you will too. See you in a few days.