I had a very warm welcome from Maria Grazia and her husband, and a wonderful stay at her lovely apartment, which was my home from home for over three weeks. They were generous and helpful in offering advice on the local area, as well as sharing some fresh eggs and fruit. The apartment was very clean, ideally cool for the unusually hot summer, and quiet, but there was also the buzz of the local community. All the rooms were large, airy and well equipped with a real feeling of being a home. The beautiful, crisp linen was kindly laundered by Maria Grazia (there is no washing machine). I was able to regularly hand-wash and dry things outside. There is also a stylish new bathroom, with excellent shower. Settignano was the perfect, friendly location. The town is perched on the hill above Florence. Its centre is small, focussed around the square, which is just a minute's walk away, with a regular, reliable bus service into Florence (about 20-25 minutes), a couple of excellent restaurants, a local deli/shop open long hours every day, three cafes/bars and beautiful views and walks (heat and occasional storms permitting!). In August when so many places close for the holidays, the shop and at least a couple of the restaurants were open throughout. It would also have been possible to join the local centre, which has a bar and various activities. With a car, it would be a great centre for visiting some Tuscan hill towns. For me, it was perfect, as I needed to be able to study/work, and reach the nearby libraries and museums. My warmest thanks to Maria Grazia. I can highly recommend staying here, and look forward to the opportunity to return.