Giovambattista’s apartment is a creative world unto itself. When you see the photos and wonder if they can be true, believe them ... they only touch the surface of the many visual layers. One of our party was confined to the house throughout our stay and was still discovering new things to see after 4 days of being there.
The host is an artist, a gentleman and very chivalrous. He is delightful and part of the experience of the apartment. As an artist myself, I hope to return and get to explore his Florentine art world more thoroughly.
With all the wonderful reviews for this place I don’t feel the need to repeat them, but I do support all the positive ones. I will instead offer some extra information that may be helpful.
The Piazza that the apartment is on, is no longer a car park as it shows on google earth. It is now an open, pedestrian only piazza, even with a sculpture done by Giovambattista guarding it. Also there used to be a nightclub on the piazza, which apparently was great fun, but it is also closed now. For Florence the piazza is fairly quiet, with mostly Italian people going about their everyday lives.
The host offers a very thorough guide for recommendations for food and places to go. Follow it! It is excellent.
This apartment is at the very edge of the tourist district, which means you actually get to experience local people. Even a block closer to the Ponte Vecchio it gets very touristy. This area and to the north is local and quaint, yet still just a 10-15 minute walk to the most important tourist attractions .... if you don’t get distracted by all the interesting things on the way ;).
This is the area with vintage stores and some cool graffiti, that is gentrifying and eclectic with real people making really cool local stuff. Explore it. You are also close to some good bars and lots of great food.
I recommend this place especially to people who like to be surprised and don’t have too many expectations about the way things “should be”. It is everything in itself, enjoy all the unexpected surprises. It is old and magnificent and creative and fun and serious and spacious and crammed full of stuff and art.
We loved it. Thank you Giovambattista for sharing your world with us. Till the next time.