We had a wonderful time at Francesca's flat in Firenze. The apartment has plenty of old-world charm (our favorite is the painted niche in the bedroom, a Madonna portrait?) but it also has very nice modern conveniences such as a modern kitchen, two modern baths and washing machine. The furnishings are tasteful and comfortable and have bohemian flair. And there is a tiled terrace off the living room. The location is quite perfect, I first came to Florence as a student about 15 years ago, the neighborhood was my favorite part of the city then and remains so now. The neighborhood is on the other side of the Arno from the Duomo, which is a good thing, you are still in the Medieval heart of Florence and can easily walk to the Ponte Vecchio and Duomo area, but you are in a part of the city that is less flooded with tourists. The flat is located just around the corner from Piazza Santo Spirito, a beautiful Piazza with a central fountain circled with cafes. The church of Santo Spirito, at the head of the Square is a Renaissance gem designed by Bruneleschi. Santo Spirito is also one of the few Piazzas in central Florence with trees, it has a very welcoming, neighborly feel. Also, the surrounding streets are occupied by artisan shops and workshops where beautifully crafted goods are made. Lastly, Rosa was really helpful. On the last day we decided to take a taxi to get to the train station and Rosa called the taxi service for us, it was a great help. Thank you very much to Francesca and Rosa, we had a wonderful time!
-Bob & Kim