At first glance, Paolo’s place looks amazing. The apartment resides in a renaissance era building which happens to have a great location, walking distance from the Duomo.
The apartment is spacious and has high ceilings. The layout works for a small family.
However, this is where the “positives” end. Among a few other major problems with this place, we encountered ants on the first night of a 3 night stay. They appeared to be “stragglers,” and were found in various areas of the apartment, spread out. However, we soon learned that Paolo’s place was infested with ants. From 12:30 am on our 2nd night of our stay I was on my hands and knees killing ants in his apartment (and sent Paolo multiple videos of the thousands of ants that were running directly to the kitchen and were in the food and under the fridge.
I repeatedly notified Paolo (who lists the flat as being owned by his sister Patrizia) about this and other problems. For instance, on our first night we ran out of hot water and 2 of us could not shower. (We learned that the prior tenants turned off a switch that controlled the undersized water heater in the bath).
To add insult to injury, Paolo’s answer was the same as he repeatedly and hostilely told us, “it’s your fault and I’ve had 200 great reviews and you are the first to complain.” He maintained this position despite receipt of pictures and videos showing him bugs in the apt, filthy floors in the master bath that wreaked of urine, and reports of the refrigerator that was warm and left our purchased milk, yogurt and cheese WARM. He denied our representations and evidence that the ants were in the apartment and later found in our bags!! Rather, Paolo, repeated told us that “we” must have brought ants there (despite sending him video showing the ants moved from the front door to his kitchen...)
Of course, this infestation became so problematic that it swamped our other concerns such as the bathroom floors that were filthy or the inadequate/lack of hot water (to which Paolo responded... “I Florence we take short few minute showers so you should do the same.” His place has lots of problems and is NOT how in the condition he represents. One of the worst Airbnb experiences— both from the condition of his place, but from his poor attitude and “blame game” response which made matters much worse.