This apartment is as refined and welcoming as it looks in the photos. We were there for 3 weeks and felt valued, comfortable and 'at home' the whole time. Everything in the apartment is good quality - nothing seemed to have been bought because "it will do for AirBnB guests". The Sicilian style of tiles and metal work was a treat. The terrace garden was especially splendid for morning sunbathing - yes, in late October - and keeping an eye on the comings and goings in the pedestrianised road below.
'We' are a retired couple who enjoy old buildings and peace and quiet and discovering the daily rhythms of life in a place. This apartment was perfect for us. Also perfect was the responsiveness of Olga (our initial flight home was cancelled and she readily adjusted our booking and payment for our having to leave sooner than first planned), and the hospitality of Renato (very charming gentleman) who not only drove us to the train station because it was raining, but bought us coffee there too. During our stay there was one slight issue with the building which we reported straight away and it was dealt with instantly.
A couple of practical things about the apartment that you may wish to consider if you are planning to stay:
1. There is no lift and the apartment is on the third floor. Renato very kindly helped us heave our suitcase up the stairs. However, I wished I had packed in a way that would have made it easy to take out some of our luggage and make two trips up the stairs.
2. All three bedrooms are charming. However, if you are planning to come here as three couples, it may help friendships if you know in advance that they differ in terms of comfort and privacy. [I am writing this with my adult children in mind, they often take holidays with their chums.] One room is very private, has a very comfortable bed and ensuite bathroom (the bath is huge and the water instantly very hot). The 'blue' room bed is not quite so comfortable (it is still fine), is perhaps even more private, and has a lovely roof-top view and an ensuite shower room. The third room is a mezzanine above the living room. This is a totally charming room with a delightful view out of a semi-circular window. There is no ensuite (nearest loo downstairs) and although the bed cannot be seen from downstairs, the mezzanine is in effect a huge 'shelf' over the living room and dining room and sound travels up and down very easily. In summary, it is all very lovely, and all good quality. Just a very different 'vibe' to each room.
Other observations from our stay:
The whole place immaculately clean.
WiFi strong and perfect all 3 weeks.
Towels very good quality and plentiful.
Shampoo and toiletries provided were good quality and plentiful.
Kitchen pots and pans and utensils were, guess what, good quality and plentiful.
The crockery and glassware is proper stuff - it is so good to be trusted to be a civilised human being.
This is the first self-catering review I have ever written (stayed in many places). I am bothering to post this review because this apartment is the first time I have deemed a place good enough quality to justify my time in writing something.
Before I go, to say something about Caltanissetta - it is not a classic 'tourist destination' which in our book is a good thing. It is peaceful, it is clean, it has clean air. We particularly enjoyed visiting the cemetery, for the mausoleums (culturally fascinating to this English person) and the countryside views. The supermarket and market stalls are within very easy walking distance of the apartment. The people who work in the Tourist Information office (on the same street as the apartment) speak good English and were extra helpful. There are some stunning churches to enjoy. Oh, and within walking distance of the apartment, a very good shop selling high quality traditional Sicilian metalwork and painted pottery.