A snug accommodation well connected to the city centre, that suited perfectly any requirements of mine, while spending two weeks in Tuscany on a business trip. The apartment could comfortably accommodate a family with two children; actually, the kids’ room – which I used as my workspace – is aptly designed for two young siblings.
The area (Ponte a Greve) was a real surprise, even to someone like me who grew up in Florence. Just behind the modern building where the flat is, I found a well preserved borgo (satellite hamlet in the surrounding of Florence), with its old streets, aged bakeries and even a theatre. It made me realize how Florence metropolitan area integrated a number of ancient settlements, each of them – like Ponte a Greve – with its own resources, traditions and history. Yet, the area offers as well good services, which include two supermarkets of biological produce (both high-quality). In my opinion, only the massive, drab profile of the Hilton, looming over the borgo, threatens to disrupt its dignified authenticity.
Finally, the host was both careful to avoid any intrusion, and attentive to anticipate any request of mine. As I was attempting the real cooking of Tuscany, Isabella brought a grill for me to experiment with the celebrated Florentine steak (bistecca alla Fiorentina).