I enjoyed staying with Alessandra in Florence, as her apartment is in a very central location (overlooking Piazza Santa Croce) and Alessandra was a gracious host. The "veduta mozzafiato" (breathtaking view) she advertised was accurate, as the apartment looked out both over the piazza and over the rooftops and towers of the historic town center. We became good friends during the 5 days I spent with her (it helped that I speak fluent Italian) and parted company with friendly affection. The apartment itself is kind of funky, very much reflecting the owner's personality (think: artistic and counter-culture attributes -- books, tchotchkes, fringed lampshades, pictures of cats and sayings from gurus) but that gave it a funky feel that I could appreciate as a former hippie! Alessandra made a lovely breakfast for me every morning and could not have been more helpful and accommodating -- including helping me up and down the stairs with my luggage! (the apartment is a third-floor walkup -- actually fourth floor, by the American system of numbering floors. In Europe, unlike America, the ground floor is considered zero, the first floor being what we call the 2nd). We had some very interesting and lively conversations that I considered an unexpected bonus of my stay there. So it was good -- but be prepared to climb stairs if you stay there!