Elena’s apartment is a memorable home base from which to explore the historical heart of Florence.
The highlights:
- The apartment itself is spacious, comfortable, sparkling clean, and thoughtfully decorated—stocked with all the essentials without any clutter.
- The views of the Duomo, Bargello, Tuscan hills, and rooftops of the city from the terrace are breathtaking. The photos don’t do them justice. We spent many hours on the terrace sipping coffee or wine, reading, having dinner, and soaking in the ambiance.
- Lea and Elena were truly fabulous hosts. Communication was efficient and prompt. Lea greeted us upon arrival with warmth and showed us around the space, providing recommendations for shops and eateries. She went above and beyond with a couple specialized requests and even provided welcome refreshments. We felt very well taken care of!
- The location is very central, within short walking distance from the major attractions (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, etc.) but tucked away on a quiet street close to the local nightlife of Santa Croce. The train station is an easy 15-minute walk.
I’m giving Elena’s listing five stars for the reasons above, but I’m compelled to leave this warning for potential guests. While we loved everything about the apartment, we arrived to find that the two neighbouring suites were being remodelled. The noise caused by the builders (drilling, hammering, etc.) was extremely loud and could be heard clearly throughout Elena’s apartment. Elena was very apologetic and arranged for the work to begin no earlier than 9:30, but the noise would continue for a few hours throughout the day, making it difficult to enjoy our time in the suite until after the noise stopped. The noise couldn’t be heard from the terrace, however.
If you plan to rise early (before 9:30) and not spend much time inside the apartment during the day, then this probably wouldn’t have a significant impact on your stay. Otherwise, I suggest contacting Elena to understand what the noise situation will be like during your dates prior to booking.
Other than the noise, I highly recommend this rental.