I wholeheartedly recommend Emma's at Lecce, where it offers a chance for travellers to wind down. Here is a wonderful nest away from our stressful and rhythmic daily life, and we adore each moment of our one week stay at Emma's.
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Considering this is a new listing at Airbnb, allow me to put forward a more detailed review as usual. I'm a frequent traveller and user of Airbnb or similar platforms, having stayed at 50+ similar homes, travelling 45 days each year. I make an effort to read my fellow travellers before booking, so I hope likewise this review could help you make the right decision:
1. Location is prime. Walking 15 seconds you would reach an Italian Baroque gem St. Angelo's Church; 3 minutes you would be wowed by the newly renovated world renowned Sant Croce / St Cross church. Within a 5 minutes radius I think there is 15+ restaurants and bars. Leece is a charming and unique city.
2. Location is quiet. Emma's home is directly facing the convent is Church of Saint Angelus. All eateries and bars are not directly under or next to Emma's, so the street is clean and free of noise at night.
3. The two balconies are charming. We love to take our morning coffees, cocktails or wine in the evenings, or nightcaps at the balconies. At night, Saint Angelo's Church is lit, so you would have a front row seat to the special Baroque facade. And over the day and overtime, the sun lights up the stone facade -- colors change and never ceases to amaze.
4. The apartment is cool. The building must be over 60 years old, so that walls are thick. Hence, there is no need for air conditioning to us, despite we visit at the height of summer. And, Emma provides us with three fans, which I usually turn one or two on.
5. The apartment is minty fresh. Emma recently spent an immerse effort to renovate and upgrade her family house. Mattress is comfy and supportive. Pillows there are four to suit our sleeping preferences. Kitchen is refurbished, equipped with new appliances. New and strong shower and new hair dryer etc...
6. Most importantly, Hospitality is AMAZING. Emma reminds me of the first generation of Airbnb Superhost, who would help travellers in time of need, and to make each trip wholesome. Now, such hospitality is harder to find at Airbnb, with a booming industry of chained investment properties. That being said, we have travelled quite intensively at Italy over the years, maybe 10 times for over hundred days in total. The South (or the most eastern part of Italy, depends how you look at the map) poses the most logistic problems to us, being independent travellers who rely on public transport and don't speak Italian. Emma has helped us so so much with transportation options (it can be hard to find out headscatching in English, or even not updated nor available online in Italian...). She gave us a range of suggestions to leisurely explore Lecce and the region. I enjoyed those long morning wanderings of the town. And, I know if we get into troubles on the road, Emma would be glad to come to rescue clueless strangers like us.
7. Caveats. Mind you that there's no WiFi nor TV at the house. But I think this can be a strength as a vacation place for ourselves -- we come to disconnect from the city life. Just in case, there's free WiFi at a bookstore + cafe called La Feltrinelli five walking minutes away, that opens long hours and offer some non Italian books as well. You can try download your Netflix episodes over a cup of coffee a book and a pastry. There's steep stairs, so this place is not really practical with people with mobility problems, or oversized heavy luggages.
All in all, thank you Emma allowing us to spend a wonderful holiday at Lecce / Salento / Basilicata.