I wish we could give Maria a sixth star in our rating, just for the personal attention she gave us in our very short layover in Madrid.
Her apartment is in an incredibly important cultural location, surrounded by the places Cervantes and other historical Spanish writers lived and died; blocks from some of the most significant museums in the world (we spent 6-1/2 hours at the Sofia); and, a center for great food and wine.
Maria's enthusiasm for Spanish writing and culture showed through the personal tour she gave us while she was off to run errands — pointing out famous writers quotes embedded in the streets, and the home of Cervantes just around the corner. She also made sure we knew how to find her favorite hidden garden nearby, and the best place for (and where to avoid) paella. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with her and found her to be attentive to every need and detail, but invisible when we came home exhausted from touring; exactly how it should be when sharing someone's home.
Her apartment is among the most beautiful we've ever stayed in and she is rightfully proud of the restoration she's done over the past decade, restoring the place to the earlier glory of the building from when it was built. It feels both contemporary and 150 years old, with romantic soft light filtering through — almost as though you'd stepped into a painting by Velázquez.
Maria has obviously stayed in fine hotels; all of the touches were there, from the filled carafe of water and chocolates in the room when returning for the night to fresh towels and nicely appointed bathroom every day.
I'm always a little resistant to home-sharing — instead opting for an apartment of our own when we travel — but Maria may have changed that for us (or ruined the experience for anyone else we try this with). Her standards and home set a very high bar.