The apartment was one of the highlights of our stay in Barcelona. The location is excellent: Plaça de la vila de Gracia is a 5 - 10 minute walk from the Passeig de Gracia and a major metro station. The apartment is spacious and light, the main bedroom has a comfortable bed, a good amount of storage space, and an excellent bathroom. The second bedroom has a trundle bed and its own, smaller bathroom. This is a great choice for the fit and independent-minded traveler; as others have said the stairs are narrow and steep but not a problem if you’re used to climbing stairs. César will let you in and show you around, though he really doesn’t speak English. However, Javier was always available when needed - most conveniently by email but also by telephone. He’s eager to help his guests have a good stay, and is very honest. We cooked some simple meals in the apartment and Javier supplied us with an additional saucepan and supplies when asked. We loved the life of the Plaça, from the bustle and noise of late night activities to the early morning peacefulness of street cleaners and residents walking their dogs. There are lots of small shops in the neighborhood - bakeries, butcher shops, gelaterias and cafes, artisans’ studios as well as some good restaurants - and we always felt safe here. A main market, L’Abaceria, is about a 10 - 15 minute walk from the apartment. Be aware that shops do close for the siesta, and that food markets close early on Saturday afternoons and many stores are shut all Sunday.