It is perhaps worthwhile to mention that this was our very first airbnb experience.
Serena had everything ready for us when we arrived last Thursday. In advance of arriving, we had exchanged a few mails and already she had helped us get oriented a bit. The introduction took just a few minutes, but was very thorough and perfectly sufficient for our 3 night stay.
The apartment is gorgeous, and so nicely done. Everywhere there is art, books, and beautifully restored fixtures, a combination of old and new. Often, when people have lots of things (myself included), the place ends up looking cluttered. Serena has a way of arranging or grouping art, books, objects, etc., so that the place looks pleasant.
We slept very well on the 5 beds used - parents in the master bedroom, the kids on the sofas in the living room, and grandma in the small bedroom. The building itself is very quiet. Visitors in the warm months should be aware that the area is lively, so that sleeping with open windows means hearing both traffic and people in the street at night. This is Italy! :-) Also, there are old wooden doors in the apartment, which naturally do not shut as smoothly and quietly as brand new doors, but they look so much better.
A lively neighborhood means there are places to shop, nice little cafes, ice cream places, or bars, etc., immediately nearby. No need to travel into town to get a drink before turning in at night. And you are surrounded by locals, not tourists. My husband had a grand time each morning touring the neighborhood in search for breakfast rolls.
Serena had wonderful suggestions for us, especially since we had little time for the city, given we spent a whole day at the Expo. She was very kind in making all sorts of suggestions about what we should do, where to eat, etc.
Overall the experience felt more like visiting a friend than staying in a hotel.