This is a jewel in the city center... modern, stylish, clean. Francesco and his mother waited as we negotiated our rental car through the busy streets of downtown Milan on a Saturday afternoon. They greeted us with a homemade pastry (don't tell our doctor, we ate it ALL!) and an invitation to share some wine. Even though they were leaving for their own family event (we arrived on the national holiday "Liberation Day"), they took a few moments to share a delightful conversation with us. They were so pleasant and kind as they made sure we had all the information we needed regarding the apartment.
The key entry system was thankfully straightforward... by Italian standards. Even though this unit is on the ground level (no hauling your luggage up a set of stairs) it is super secure. This is downtown, but it's not so close to the central train station (BTW, must-see gorgeous!) that sketchy sorts hang out in front of his building. There's a Japanese restaurant and a little grocery steps away. We felt safe.
There is a key-access-controlled common area surrounding three sides of the unit. Other tenants enter in order to deposit their trash and store their bicycles. Over the holiday weekend I saw no one access their bicycle, and only two people using the trash/recycle bins. They were both quietly businesslike as they made their deposits in the ultra-clean areas around the bins. I didn't see the noisy trash dumping behavior common in America. Was this merely a holiday fluke? I expect weekdays will provide substantial construction noise from the adjacent building during the day. Not a problem if you're getting up early to sight-see.
In any case, the bedroom is far away from the common area, and the mattress is so comfortable you'll sleep through anything.
This unit is a modified loft with the bedroom accessed by means of a charming but narrow wooden spiral staircase. I loved it in spite of my prodigious girth. If you're elderly, need to urinate frequently during the night, or seriously fat like me, you might find it a challenge.
The electrical system is new, properly engineered and installed. Tons of hot water! A dishwasher, a clothes washer, a drier! Did I mention hygienically clean?
Francesco is in the process of decorating in a fun modern style. When he's done, it will be awesome. I'm glad he's waiting to install just the right pieces. In the meantime, it's comfortable.
Big cities are noisy, but this unit is set so far away from the street that you don't hear it. A compressor comes on at irregular intervals. It's located one or two floors down in what appears to be a parking garage. You hardly notice it after a while; it's well balanced with a long duty cycle.
Francesco was a super host even without being present. If it hadn't been for his advice (numerous e-mails prior to our visit) I might not have packed my storm coat and umbrella.