Giuliana is an exceptional hostess. We happened to arrive in Palermo on the day the Pope was visiting. Most of the central streets were closed, and traffic was impossible. The taxi that took us from the airport to the city had to stop some ten blocks away from the apartment. The streets were crowded with people returning from the day's festivities. We didn't have a good sense of exactly how to get to the apartment (and we had our luggage), but Giuliana told us to start walking and she would walk as well to meet us. Ten minutes later we saw each other amidst the crowd of people and she took one of our bags and led us back to the apartment. Exceptional attention! The apartment is lovely; the deck just perfect. The only reason I said my experience was "pretty much what I expected" was that all the other reviewers were so complimentary! A beautiful, modern renovation of a building (great elevator) in a great location--close to everything but very quiet. A great place to stay!