Paolo welcomed us as more than guests. He made us feel as if we were family. I could not speak highly enough of the attentiveness shown by both Paolo and Natalia. The residence is in a superb location and I don't think the listing does it adequate justice. The house is truly wonderful; the views are more amazing than expected; there's a bus stop covering three routes within 20m of the door and a great wee restaurant across the rua - for us the absolute ideal base in Rio! I should mention that Paolo provides a superb breakfast every morning making for the perfect start to each day. Santa Theresa is SO much more interesting than anything beachside. Easily walkable right down into Lapa and reassuringly safe. If there were more than 5 stars to award, I'd tick them all. If you want somewhere to stay in Rio that affords an authentic carioca experience, this will fulfil all your requirements for very few £s.