Maria was a perfect host with good pre-arrival communication and although on the day we arrived we didn't give her much notice of the time we would actually be arriving she managed to get to us as soon as possible in her busy schedule as she manages many properties. The apartment is really well located near the river, with bars and cafe's literally on the doorstep. But it remains relatively quite from street noise.
The apartment itself is quite clearly still lived in by the owner or at least that's how it feels.
It was up 3 flights of stairs with a double key door entry at the bottom and another key for the main door at the top. Not sure how we would have got out in a fire! So beware of the stairs but not an issue for us.
The apartment was clean and comfortable on the whole. Sadly though there were some issues with a broken shower, an unreliable flush on the toilet, a really really squeaky bed in the twin room, and a few other minor quibbles with only 1 mirror in bathroom, nowhere to hang towels, uninviting terrace etc. All of which we have relaid to Maria, who although not the owner is responsible. Unfortunately for us during our stay the apartments above and below where both under going redecoration (in the one above where people where working until we asked them to stop at nearly 1 am) and complete renovation (in the apartment below so we awoke to drills and hammering which went on until 7.30pm). On altering Maria - she quickly contacted all involved and upstairs stopped and below began work later at 9.30 am the next day to which we were grateful as when in cities you stay out late and with the travelling are extra tired. However there was no hope of sleep in the restful siesta time and this left as all rather disappointed with our stay at this particular apartment to say the least. Maria was unaware of the renovations etc going on so no blame at all laid there - but we still feel communication should have been better and some of the apartments issues needed sorting - we can't be the first to notice these?
On the positive side Seville is quite wonderful. We did a great cycle tour with 'seebybike' (they gave excellent tips of places to eat and drink) to get our barings, ate at many amazing Tapas restaurants, drank delicious wine, went to rooftop bars in the evening and free flamenco shows - the best food we had in our whole holiday of travelling Spain. Near the apartment by the river was the best ice cream shop too. Seville is so welcoming and easy and we will without doubt be back. But alas unusually we will stay somewhere else next time.