I was received by Bruno's mother, who showed me everything inside the apartment. It is roomy and generally quiet, although one may hear occasional street noises, also at night (but hey, this is downtown Palermo after all). They went way beyond the call of duty in making me feel welcome: a bottle of Sicilian wine was part of the package, and I made good use of it. Bruno's guide to the neighborhood was very helpful, since I hadn't been in the city in over fifteen years. And for things not in the guide, he always responded to e-mail *very* quickly.

The apartment itself is located in what I feel is one of the nicest parts of the city, with lots of restaurants, ice cream parlors (!!!) and other amenities nearby. Piazza Politeama (where the airport shuttle stops) is 5 minutes on foot, and you have the advantage of staying within spitting distance (but not actually IN) the famously hectic, lively but also noisy and smelly renaissance-era center of the city.

I found the one bed I used very comfortable; the apartment is decorated tastefully and contains modern equipment and a quick wi-fi connection.