We had a great time in Florence, and staying at Alessandro's home was a key element. Getting to and from city center was an easy walk. We took several day trips by train, and getting to and from the train station was an easy walk.
The apartment was a bit warm for us (although most locals were wearing heavy coats) and Alessandro made a special trip to the apartment to provide the remote control for the air conditioning.
Alessandro had a nice bottle of wine and champagne waiting for us, and he even went out of his way to add a special amenity for us. He was an awesome host.