The big plus factor for this flat is its brilliant location. It is right in the centre of beautiful Bologna, so there's a lot going on in the neighbourhood and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes right outside the front door, two storeys down. Of course that means it's a bit noisy at night and first thing in the morning - but there are shutters that block out every chink of light and, tired out after all the walking and sightseeing we did, the noise didn't disturb us unduly.
We were greeted warmly by Giorgio's uncle - but communication wasn't easy, as we didn't speak each other's languages to any degree. Giorgio does not live in Bologna, but is always available by phone, and he made a point of asking if we'd settled ok and was extremely helpful with any practical issues we had, such as telling us where we could get our boarding passes printed and giving us details of taxi companies. He speaks excellent English.
The flat itself was spotlessly clean, is extremely spacious
and traditionally furnished. There are homely touches, such as photos and many framed paintings done by Giorgio's uncle. The kitchen is very well equipped, but
there is no dishwasher - not a problem for us, but it might be for a family, self-catering. The large bathroom boasts two basins, a bidet, a bath and hand shower and there were plenty of towels for guests.
There are two comfortable lounges, but we preferred to sit in the kitchen, which was much brighter. This is possibly the only negative point - the flat is rather dark and
it's necessary to have the lights on most of the time.
I should mention the lift up to the flat - it is extraordinary, tiny and old-fashioned. If you're at all claustrophobic, you'd probably prefer to use the stairs - not too far - but if you can get used to the lift, it's actually quite fun, and very reliable. The flat is very secure.
Overall, we'd definitely recommend Giorgio's flat. It suited our needs perfectly, in that we were able to enjoy Bologna from a very convenient and comfortable base.