We had a wonderful time staying at Silvia’s place; the two best points about the apartment were the location (very central, so we were able to walk anywhere in Venice easily, but also relatively peaceful in off season) and the apartment itself, which was very nicely furnished and has a great roof deck to look out on the city from. We were slightly apprehensive before we came because of reviews mentioning the mattress: while it and the pillows are definitely on the firm side, we weren’t uncomfortable; perhaps worth keeping in mind if you’re used to a soft mattress, though!