My spouse and our 2 children spent a week at Silvia's place. Silvia met us at the train station and escorted us to her apartment. She was kind and gracious, and we felt welcome. Silvia gave us a tour of the home and explained everything to us. We were exhausted and hungry and were thankful that she provided breakfast foods for us. This was a particularly thoughtful touch. The beds were simple but comfortable. There were more than enough towels. There were guidebooks to help with touring. For a week stay it was helpful to have a washing machine to keep up with our laundry. Silvia herself is wonderful. The apartment is outside of the main attraction area. If you're from the US you can imagine staying in Brooklyn and traveling into Manhattan; it's a similar feeling. It's nice to get away from the noise and crowds after a long day of dealing with them. There are grocery stores, a terrific gelato shop, and a bakery within a quick walk. We enjoyed getting fresh fruit on our way home from the subway as the fruit shop was open late at night. The subway is about 5 minutes away.