Monica's apartment is a jewel that we feel lucky to have found. She was extremely welcoming, and made it easy for us to explore the most exciting, historical part of town.

The building is off a tiny and quiet plaza near the Arc de Triomf, a couple of blocks from the Picasso museum and the old Roman city, and near metro and bus lines.

Monica made us feel completely at home, and for most of our stay we had the apartment completely to ourselves. While she was there, she was a gracious and entertaining host who provided some very nice context and history to our understanding of the city.

One small caution: the apartment is in an historical building and is up several flights of stairs. While we did not find this a problem at all, it would be a difficult accommodation for the mobility impaired.

But if you are looking to spend the day walking around, exploring the beauty and history of this amazing city, Monica's apartment is perfectly situated. We plan to come back.

(Also: very good wi-fi, well equipped kitchen, washing machine, etc.)