We loved our stay at Maria E João’s place. After the pandemic it was so nice to be on a bustling street right in the middle of the city where we could watch people walk by enjoying themselves and each other. The street below is very vibrant with cafe activity. You can shut the windows if you need it to be quiet. They are very thick. The stairs to the apartment are steep and narrow. We had no problem with this and enjoyed the authentic feel, but if you have trouble with stairs, this could be a problem for you. Communication with the hosts was excellent. We would recommend this apartment for a sweet dynamic central place to stay.