Claudio met us at the bus station which was only a few blocks from his studio apartment. As we entered the building, he explained that a couple of weeks earlier Taormina had experienced a tremendous amount of rain and that the first floor had been filled with a river of water. At present the occupants were waiting for insurance estimates before repairs could be done. The ceilings and walls along the entrance and in the stairways were covered with black mold. A neighbor two doors down from Claudio's apartment suspended rentals with airbnb, but Claudio said that he didn't want to cancel our reservation because he did not want to diminish his reputation with airbnb. If we had been given notice two weeks prior, we could have found alternate accommodations; however, in the moment of our arrival we did not think it would be possible. Therefore we stayed the three days to which we had committed. We worried each time we entered the building if breathing in this mold would cause us health problems. The smell of dampness and mold was very strong. Inside the apartment no water damage had occurred, although we could hear water dripping from the roof onto the ceiling when it rained. Obviously, some roof repairs are needed. Claudio provided us with glasses of Prosecco which were very welcomed after a long journey of three train rides and one bus ride. He gave us excellent restaurant recommendations and had available maps and pertinent information about the city. He was responsive when we had a problem turning off the kitchen sink faucet. He was flexible in our check out time as we waited for pouring rain to lessen. The studio apartment is small, but adequate for a short stay. The shower, however, is so small that our movement would inadvertently turn the water off or change the temperature. I burnt myself once when this happened even though I was making an effort to stay away from the lever. The toilet was running constantly and needed repair. The apartment was clean in general. It has an ideal location near the bus station and near the historic center of town. We feel that the apartment should not be rented until repairs are made to the building and a safety inspection conducted. Although we enjoyed Taormina and Mt. Etna immensely, we do not feel that the amount we paid to stay at this studio apartment (our most expensive accommodations in Sicily) was just, considering the damaged and possibly unsafe condition of the building.