I had the pleasure of staying at Pablo's place for three weeks and I became very well acquainted with the apartment and the neighborhood. From my extended time there, this is my honest review of the home.
The good:
The apartment itself is incredible. Spacious, well-equipped, comfortable, homey. You couldn't ask for a better set up. The master bedroom is massive with a beautiful balcony to wake up to in the morning. The second bedroom is also huge. There's great natural light throughout the home. The wifi is fast and reliable. There are new, powerful AC units in every room so it's easy to stay cool. The kitchen has everything you could need to cook up large meals. The smart TV has all the apps you could want if you want a movie night in. The shower is lovely, the washer is convenient, and having a dishwasher is a real treat. The home feels safe.
Pablo himself is a great host and wonderful at communicating and truly wants to make sure his guests feel comfortable and at home. He answered my messages promptly and was able to provide me with a few kitchen items that I needed. I couldn't speak more highly of him!
The not-so-good:
Palermo is a city that changes drastically based on which neighborhood you find yourself in. This apartment is in a very residential area, and the vibe and energy is very different than what you find in the historic center or other more 'touristy' areas. There are almost no bars and restaurants nearby. It is *at least* a 15 minute walk through crowded residential streets to get to the main parts of the city, but most areas are *at least 20-25 minute walk* away. The walk isn't particularly pleasant (no sidewalks, busy streets) and there is *no public transportation nearby*. Public transport isn't much of a thing in Palermo, and where it is limitedly available isn't anywhere near this home. There are E-Scooters around (Lime, Bird, etc) which are fun to ride, but the apartment is in a strict "No Parking Zone" for all of the apps, so if you do use a scooter you have to park it at least 5-10 minutes away and walk to the apartment. Which is fine during the day, but at night as a female traveler it made things difficult. There is no Uber in Palermo and taxis are very expensive (I paid 20 euro for a 2km ride the one time I used one). The location was out of the way enough that I personally felt it was a hindrance to my enjoyment and experience of the city.
At the end of the day, it really depends on what you're looking for in a stay. If you need good, reliable wifi, a place to cook and sprawl out, and don't really care about being near restaurants, nightlife, and city energy, then this is a truly great home. If you're looking for somewhere to be in the heart of Palermo and have easy access to the sights and sounds of the city, I would look elsewhere. I feel bad writing this because the home truly is so lovely and Pablo is a wonderful, wonderful host, but I also want to share my honest experience here. If you could pick the place up and move it a kilometer or two east, it would be perfect.