The Area: Andriana’s place is one of the best places I’ve stayed in thus far in comparison to other places I’ve traveled in the world. If you want more than just a bed and a roof then this is the place to get fully immersed into the daily living of a local Bari resident. You’ll walk through a maze of narrow streets and friendly smiles of the local people. In front of the apartment complex is a small cozy piaza where a local pizzeria make delicious pizzas and locals gather to enjoy dinner and life altogether. So be warned, if you go to bed early and are a light sleeper you may need to use some earplugs. However, I think it’s important to note that the noise that you’ll hear is just people eating and talking down below (the balcony overseas the small square), and not some disco/bar with drunk folks running around wrecking havoc.
The Place: Andriana’s apartment is the nicest and most elegantly decorated place I’ve stayed. It felt like an extension of their home and not some airbnb that just provides you with a place to sleep. We visited in the peak of the summer and her air conditioner worked amazing and cooled the place down very good. There are some very narrow stairs going up so keep this in mind when lugging bags up to the apartment, or in our case, a baby in a stroller.
Hospitality: From the very moment that I received a booking confirmation, Andriana was in touch to facilitate our arrival. She has very good intricate PDFs that outline where to park, how to find the apartment, and how to access the keys. She was aware that we had a little one with us (2 year old) and left my daughter some colored pencils and paper so that she could doodle, I thought that was going above and beyond. And for the the adults, she left my wife and I a nice treat in the fridge for us to enjoy. I won’t mention what it was so that Andriana can change it up for other guests ;) She provided us with easy to read maps but often we found ourselves messaging each other to recommend places to visit based on where we were driving that day.
Pro Tips: Parking near the apartment is pretty much nonexistent. You can park behind the castle (the castle will be to your left and the apartments to your right) next to other cars, essentially double parking which is why if you will arrive with a second person it is recommendable to leave someone in the car (I.e. my wife) to move the car just in case while you move bags to and from the car. Once you’re done unloading all of your bags, the best place to park is in a parking garage that is about a 10 minute walk, or 30 minute walk at the pace of a 2 year old ;) It felt very safe and the daily price is very reasonably prices.
Overall: If we could visit Bari again, we would definitely stay in Andriana’s place again! If you’re looking to experience living like a local then this is the place for you!