We really enjoyed our stay in the house. For us, it had everything that we needed: We absolutely loved the rooftop terrace. The temperatures there were surprisingly pleasant even during the day. We really enjoyed having a chance to cook and to have boxes to pack some snacks for a day out. Also, having a washing machine was really good! We did not experience any problems with mould / unpleasant smell. Everything was okay! The house is a bit dark, but this kept it cool, so it was perfect for a summer stay (September).
The neighbourhood is quiet, especially at night, but in a really good location: close to the market, to all of Ortigia and also to Syracuse and the train station, so you can walk from there.
The absolute best aspect of this experience however was the kindness of our co-host, Claudia. She went out of her way to help us find bus connections and recommendations for a day out, and she answered all little questions about plugs or the washing machine superfast. We felt really welcome and taken care of - thank you for that!