Wow… this is the one! If you’re looking for an authentic experience living in the heart of Florence (even if it’s just for a couple of days), this is it! First, a great location. We rode the train into Florence SMN and had a short walk (about 10 minutes with luggage, a little quicker without luggage) from the termini to the apartment. The apartment is located between the Duomo, Palazzo Vechio, and Mercado Centrale. It’s a 5-10 minute walk to any of those. Second, Raphaella met us (on time) at the apartment and showed us how everything worked. She’s a native of Florence that is managing her own property, not an employee of an anonymous apartment management company. She was very gracious and even had some snacks for us when we arrived. (I prefer doing business with locals like Raffaella and Luca that take ownership of my experience and how I’m treated.) Third, the quality of the apartment is great. The beds were the most comfortable we’ve had on our trip (=good sleep), everything was polished and well-decorated. There are three separate bedrooms, as well as a living room that can easily hold five people for conversation and caffé. The kitchen was stocked with a Bialetti moka pot, which was great for opening the windows in the morning and people-watching with a cup of caffé. Fourth, food is steps away. There is a restaurant on the street level under the apartment, one directly across the street from the front door, and several more across the piazza. That made it very easy for us to try different places without having to walk a distance after supper. Overall, very glad we stayed here. It was exactly the experience we were looking for, hosted by great people that know about hospitality.