There was a pungent smell in the apartment, which made our 6 night experience very unpleasant. When we made comment to the owner, we were told it is normal in old buildings. We have stayed in various old buildings throughout Europe and it is not the norm. We were also met with patronizing solutions such as use the fan in the WC or cover the drains. It was not a naturally occurring odor and unfortunately did not go away. The smell even travelled with us in some of our clothing, which we placed in the garbage upon arriving at our next destination.
It is a shame in fact because the apartment has everything you need, with a well equipped kitchen and amenities; although you have what you need to live, do not expect any tourist information or map. The location is good and walkable to most of Barcelona’s monuments. The area itself is residential, filled with shops and cafes.
Something also to note that we don’t recall reading in the reviews- 85 steps await you up a narrow staircase, so difficult to manage with larger suitcases.
All in all, we do not recommend anyone staying in this apartment until the smell problem is addressed.