The moment of stepping from the busy street into the ‘secret garden’ of this apartment is truly magical. Directly opposite the Boboli Gardens, 5 minutes from the Pitti Palace and from the gorgeous Piazza Santo Spirito, with wonderful restaurants and cafés. The apartment itself is clean, characterful and well-equipped, though a little tricky if you have small children because the comfortable sitting area (shared with ‘reception’ and therefore not private) is down three small flights of stone steps. Also worth noting that the mezzanine bedroom, whilst beautiful and full of character (fling open the full length windows to look out on the magical garden), the steps up to it are a bit steep for the very old or very young. Anna and Isabella are wonderful hosts, communicate brilliantly and go above and beyond to help. If you want somewhere central (but not quite in tourist-land), unique and full of character, it’s perfect.