My husband and I stayed three days at Giovanna's lovely apartment at the end of our vacation in Tuscany. Although we didn't get to meet Giovanna in person (she arranged for a colleague to check us in), we would happily stay here if we are lucky enough to come to Florence again. The apartment is very spacious and well equipped, and beautifully decorated, just as shown in the photos. Santo Spirito is a wonderful neighbourhood - residential but with lots of shopping and great restaurants and very close to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli and Bardini gardens. Yes, it can be lively at night, but the bed is super comfortable and shutting the bedroom door (and ear plugs) takes care of the noise. All in all, this is a great home base for experiencing Florence.
Other tips:
- the apt is on the 3rd floor, so pack lightly
- make reservations at local restaurants to avoid waiting (they are deservedly popular). We'd recommend the Osteria Santo Sprito, Il Santo Bevitore, and the Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco on Borgo S Jacopo.
- the taxi companies can be challenging to deal with by phone and don't book ahead, so if you want one to come at a specific time (e.g., to get to the airport), take Giovanna up on her offer to arrange one. Or simply call 10-15 minutes ahead, but be prepared to speak a little Italian.
- recognize that Florence's beauty is often hidden behind those fabulous doors, so bring comfortable shoes and an open mind, and enjoy exploring this fabulous city.
- Hidden gem: St. Mark's English Church on Via Maggio offers live opera concerts several times a week for very reasonable prices. It's a beautiful little church with great acoustics, and the intimate seating arrangement and quality of the performances make for a great evening. And the proceeds all go to the church's charity work!