I had a wonderful time at Maria's place! It's in my favorite area of the city (sta Catarina), very close to everything you might be looking for, and with a great view. Restaurants and bars, as well as shops and monuments, are just a few minutes away (as is the metro station).
Although Bairro Alto (the nightlife area) is just like 1-2 minutes walking, the apartment never gets noisy.
The apartment is nice and comfortable, it's even better than you might get from pictures and description! If you are interested in it, the WiFi works very well (I was on a business trip, and this was a really important detail form me).
I spent there 10 days and it really felt like home!
Moreover, the hosts are great! They are very nice people, friendly and welcoming, and they are always ready to help you with everything you might need.
I really hope to have the chance to come back very soon!