I was greeted by both Giovanni and Silvia; Giovanni was kind enough to help with carrying the heavier suitcase up 2 flights of stairs, and Silvia's beaming smile, kindness and a hand-painted porcelain tile as 'thank you' certainly made me welcome from the start. The apartment is contemporary with a touch of character. There is also an interactive guide in the main hallway about all the things you need to know about Palermo. It is obvious that a lot of effort and love has been invested into all this - the apartment and the hosts definitely get thumps up from me!