I had a lovely stay in Florence, thanks in no small part to Marianna's loft. The apartment was well-appointed, spacious, and in a perfect location - steps from the Duomo, close to many other attractions, and surrounded by quiet restaurants and shops. When I arrived, an older gentleman gave my sister and I a quick tour (his English was sufficient, even though our Italian is...poor, to say the least).

Notable: like any apartment, this place has its quirks. We couldn't get the stove to light, for example, because the pilot was out and the clicker they left us was out of lighter fluid. The shower was also less than ideal. However, these things detracted in only minor ways from our trip, and I'd recommend this apartment wholeheartedly.