bvlenci

From the photos, it appears that it might be below ground level, in which case it could very well be cool enough. I would be more concerned about ventilation.

ekscrunchy

Two thousand years old!!!!???

Is that even possible...24AD?

bvlenci

It's very near the Colosseum, so it's possible, especially if it's below ground level, as I supposed. What it probably means is that parts of the apartment have ancient walls.

A lot of buildings in central Rome are built on ancient foundations. La Lunetta, which I mentioned recently in another post, is built on the foundations of the ancient Theatre of Pompey. I think they now have a spa on that level, but I haven't been inside since they reopened as a boutique hotel.

The restaurant across the street is also built over that ancient theatre. When La Lunetta used to be my favourite budget hotel, I often ate at that restaurant. Once I asked the owner if it was possible to see the ancient part of the restaurant. He said he didn't have permission to take people down there, but if I would hang around until closing time, he would make an exception. The ancient part was in excellent condition.

P_M

UPDATE: The website indicated it's no longer available. I had already reached out to the owner with a different question, but she confirmed it's no longer available. It wasn't meant to be this time. We found another place and we're booked.

Thank you all, this was a fun thread.

P_M

One of the reviews mentioned a newspaper article they keep in the apartment. The article mentions the age of the building.

Fleur_de_Lis

But what did the owner say about how cool it stays in the summer? Lol - I'm hooked now and want to know the answer

Traveler_Nick

Wine cellars never had A/C and wine is more fragile than a person.

It's not that thick wells don't let heat in it's just they take longer to soak up the heat. End of June the walls might still be cool from the winter. Eventually they'll warm up but it's like the sea. End of June it maybe 30c air temp but that doesn't mean the water has caught up.

P_M

I never got an answer to that question, as it was booked when the owner saw my message.

Christina

Owners may lie. This is a matter of construction to some extent, not the fact that the building is ancient.

My own house is brick and even though I live in a hot area in the US, my house is always at least 10 degrees cooler than outside in the full sun, and it's not ancient, it's about 70 years old. Of course the basement even more. I slept in the basement once when we had a power outage in mid-July when outside it was in the 90s during daytime.

I have been in Provence in July in some kind of stone house/building and it was a little cooler, but it wasn't miraculous or anything. I did have a fan but it was still kind of hot for sleeping. the problem is that it does cool down there at night, but then it is hotter inside than outside if you can't get a breeze.

Seamus

We stayed in an AirBnB in an "ancient" building that was hotter than the hinges of Hades in July when the AC went out despite the owners assurance that keeping the shutters closed would maintain cool. Bull. .

AC side, it looks pretty cramped. Not a place I'd put on my list.

LucieV

I get claustrophobic in warren-y places. Plus, I've got to have a window that opens and some sort of view, even if it's just the street.

bilboburgler

I've stayed in many older properties though more like 400-600 years. Thick walls and windows that open to the north (in the northern hemisphere) and sensible use of when to open windows etc etc ensure that such properties stay cool in summer. Air-con is required when you design either cheap poor quality buildings or you let architects design as if air-con is standard. There is a whole culture of design for Climate Change and zero/low cost buildings. Much of this is covered under the general tag Net Zero but other searches and specialisms do exist.

kybourbon

**We stayed in an AirBnB in an "ancient" building that was hotter than the hinges of Hades in July when the AC went out despite the owners assurance that keeping the shutters closed would maintain cool. Bull. .**

Agreed. If you've ever been to the underground Domus Aurea (86 AD) in summer (which is near that apartment), you will find it hot, very humid and mold prone.

happy_traveler_too

Of course it possible! When I lived in Jerusalem I lived on Mt Zion for some time in buildings that are 900 years old. When I lived in northern Italy the building we lived in was 1800 years old with documentation too. Europe has some VERY old structures unlike USA.

MalakiHebert

Steeped in history, like you! I once stayed in a 400-year-old farmhouse in Tuscany during summer. Stone walls were crazy thick, and even without AC, it stayed surprisingly cool inside. Shutters on the windows helped a ton at night.

Downside: showers were a bit chilly, but hey, refreshing after a hot day! The reviews don't mention coolness for a reason, I think. It might be regionally specific – thick stone walls work wonders in some climates.

Here's what I'd do:

Message the Host: Ask about the building's insulation and if they have any recommendations for keeping cool (fans etc.).

Pack Light Layers: Long, loose clothes for the day and light PJs for potentially cool nights.

If the host assures you the place stays cool-ish, and you're up for a bit of an adventure, go for it! The chance to live in a piece of history is pretty special. But if you absolutely can't handle the heat, maybe look for a place with AC for peace of mind.