Isabella's apartment is the perfect place to stay in Florence! We just spent three idyllic days at Isabella's apartment and wish we could have been there longer. The views are perhaps the best views in the entire city, the location is ideal and the apartment itself is clean and inviting. First, the views - from every window, you look out on an unobstructed view of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo). You can see the Cathedral from every window in the house, and even though I've been to Florence before, I've never seen the Duomo from this perspective, and from up close for so many days. We ate breakfast every morning with the windows open, enjoying the breathtaking views.
The location can't be beat. You walk straight out of the building and onto the Piazza del Duomo. It's like a dream! Everything in Florence is a short walk away from the apartment. The Accademia is a 5 minute walk. The Uffizi is 8 minutes. The Bargello is 6 minutes. The Arno and Ponte Vecchio is 8 minutes. Amazing shopping and restaurants are also just minutes away. We even walked to the Piazza Michelangelo across the river and up the hill for the commanding views of the city, and that didn't feel too far away. The great thing about the central location is that you can return to the apartment throughout the day to drop things off. There are some stairs to get to the apartment, so if you are limited in your mobility, this probably isn't the place for you. I found the stairs inviting because it helped us earn extra gelato! And without the stairs, you wouldn't have such amazing views.
The apartment itself was wonderful. It was clean and inviting. The beds were comfortable. The kitchen was well stocked and had everything we needed, and we appreciated the air conditioning and washer. Isabella even has a few travel guide books, which we used to find great restaurants. Check-in is a code at the main door and then another code to obtain the key, so arrival is seamless and quick.
Isabella was a wonderful host. She was accommodating, communicative and friendly. She left some pastries and candies, which were welcome for our late arrival. She had great suggestions for us about Florence. My only wish about Isabella's place was that we could have stayed longer! Whenever we stay in Florence, this is where we will stay.