Anna is lovely host. We greatly appreciated her flexibility for arrival and departure times. We got to Rio very early in the morning and she generously offered us a continental breakfast upon our arrival. We had a lovely discussion about her work as a photographer and the renovation of the house. While quite the adventure, the care she took during the renovation is obvious in the details throughout.
Our room was quite comfortable, spacious, and stylishly decorated. The fruit bowl in our room was a lovely surprise and provided perfect light snacks during our stay. As an added touch our host also provided a number of fascinating books on various topics that everyone could read and/or flip through. A very nice option for our few moments of downtime!
Anna was very helpful in suggesting places to see and explore in Rio. Her guide to Santa Teresa and Rio is excellent and we referred to it many times.
The Santa Teresa location was superbly central, making it easy to get to the places we wanted to see. We also appreciated the quiet neighborhood, its narrow streets and bohemian flavor. The area is hilly but quite walkable. The views you see along the way are lovely and worth the exertion. You also have the option of catching a bus that stops close to the house. If you're heading to downtown Rio, hopping on the recently reopened and restored Bondinho (trolley) is a fun alternative to the bus. It' s just a short walk from the house.
Villa Sophia is an excellent choice for staying in Rio!