Claudio's place is exactly as depicted...but even better. The view of the dome of the Duomo and all the red tile rooftops is exactly as close and beautiful as shown in the pictures. And the apartment is wonderfully unique. You will need to walk up quite a few steps...and just when you think you're at the top, you are greeted by a few more seps: a very small spiral that leads to your 'penthouse'. It's incredibly charming. Once inside, you'll find the apartment is full of personal touches in terms of decor. The kitchen is a very clever use of space. It's got everything you need to cook, make coffee and store your drinks & food. There are grocery stores very close by. But on top of that, the little kitchen is full of personality, it even has its own window with a little shutter. The main living space is on a corner, so the windows offer views in two directions. It's a spacious, welcoming place and very comfortable for lounging, with an eclectic blend of older and newer furnishings and interesting posters and artwork. The apartment is sunny, even in the nicely sized bathroom which has its own window. The bedroom is roomy and features a low ceiling of original wood beams that slope -- some may find this takes a bit of getting used to but we found it to be very unique and it added to the cozy atmosphere. In bed you can look up at a little skylight, and there are plenty of outlets to plug in your phone or laptop. Both the bedroom and living room have their own air conditioning, which is very welcome in the Florentine summer. Now, here's the best part: the street scene is very lively. You are in the center of it all. Walk to all kinds of restaurants, shops, the Duomo and more. Even the Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery are less than a 20 minute walk away. The night life right nearby is vibrant, too. Yet once you climb the steps to Claudio's apartment this vibrancy fades away and you arrive in a peaceful place to sleep and unwind. You'd never guess how much activity is far down in the street below you. Definitely the best of both worlds. Hats off to Claudio for terrific communication and to Ranieri, who greeted us and kindly allowed us to store our bags well after the check-out so we could roam the city on our final day. We will be back!