To provide context, we have used Airbnb all over Australia and had an excellent experience there. Understanding that every culture is different (I am from Singapore and my husband originally from Sydney) Francesca’s was our third and thus far longest Airbnb Italian experience on our 3 week holiday in Italy up to then. From the first when I contacted her to find out if my knee challenged husband would be able to manage her second floor apartment, Francesca was very open and honest with me – letting me know that it would require 38 steps to get to her second floor apartment (in Italy we’ve discovered ground floor is 0, next floor is 1 and second floor is the third floor) so we went in knowing that. She was excellent and prompt in staying in touch in our run up to her place as we had to manage a changing schedule. When we finally met her and her lovely son on a Sunday afternoon, she took us through a suggested plan of action to tackle all the tourist and restaurant attractions for our 4 day stay including providing a map. Also through her shopping recommendations we bought two much desired leather jackets at brilliant prices☺ And when we left she kindly helped us book a cab. She as cool too about couple of dishes i had broken and told me not to worry about them. Truly a superhost! The apartment came exactly as appears in the photos on Airbnb and we have no qualms about recommending this excellently located (its right next to the Pitti Palace!) well appointed and scrupulously clean apartment together with Francesca’s warm and welcoming presence. I need to mention in passing that most if not all the 5 Airbnb apartments in Italy during our stay do not provide for what we usually take for granted – toasters, decent sized tea mugs – which was fine – different culture – that’s why we travel☺. Also the shower stalls are pretty small by usual standards but hot water was plentiful and welcome. One thing does need a mention though, she shared with us that our apartment and the one next door used to be part of a large apartment which has since been split into two. I discovered on the third night during one of my occasional insomniac periods that the common wall between the two units is not sound proof. I sat in our living room reading with the bedroom door shut and heard everything our neighbours discussed and did at 4 am as they got up to prepare (shower, pack their bags, open and shut cupboard doors, trundle their luggage) even though they seemed to be trying to be quiet. Though we had heard muffled sounds in the mornings previously we just closed our bedroom door and being exhausted just slept through it. So if you are a light sleeper, you might want to bring some earplugs. Despite this we had another excellent Italian Airbnb experience...