I was greeted at the train station by Andrea, a friendly young man (he manages the apartment, as Francesca and family are now in Livorno), who walked me to the apartment, and helped me carry my suitcase (up the two flights of stairs, as well as the stairs of the bridges that we crossed). he showed me around the apartment and answered my various questions, noting among other things that the supermarket is just about 1 minute from the apartment. with the map in front of us, he showed me how to walk to st mark's square (where i was headed), and this was very helpful! he even arranged for someone to help me with my suitcase (down the stairs, and also over the first two bridges) when i returned to the train station at the end of my stay.