I have spent a lot of time in FLorence and have stayed in five other places and I was very lucky to be the first guest to stay at Massimo's apartment in Florence. It is a true gem and was a lucky find! I will write a more detailed review since I was the first guest but my short version was truly a great apartment, newly renovated, excellent location and fully stocked with any home comforts one would need for a short or long stay. Massimo was a wonderful host - always very quick to respond and extremely accommodating; very kind. The apartment is a gem, and my only concern in writing this review is that it will be completely booked solid soon so I won't have a chance to stay again or recommend it to friends and family .
Details: The apartmentIt has wonderful modern amenities as it is newly renovated and appliances yet has the historic feel and character of Florence at the same time. It is a spacious terraza level (no stairs! great if you have a lot of luggage), one-bedroom, hidden away from the main street in a courtyard with lots of privacy and a gated door/entry before the actual door to the apartment which is really nice. The location is incredible - it is very close to the main historic center, a couple of minutes walk from the Duomo, still in the center but away from most of the noise. It is in Borgo Pinti where you can step out to many restaurants on the next corner and a fruit stand, and a few minutes away is the amazing Sant'Ambrosio market. The location is incredible. There are bars nearby but on a Saturday night when the streets do get rowdy with young boisterous crowds, I did not hear much despite all of the action on the streets because it is cosily tucked away, and the bedroom is tucked even more away with what seem to be soundproof windows (if not it was extremely quiet in the bedroom).
The photos do not do it justice - it is airy, bright and has lovely big windows with Florentine style. I stayed in May during the dawn of summer, with 80-90 degree temperatures in the day, and it is built such that it stays cool at 20-21 degrees always. I didn't even need to use the A/C. Even though it is cool and on the ground floor, it is beautiful and bright all day and receives lovely afternoon sun. There are screens on the windows and a pull screen on the full length door in the bedroom. There is also a security shutter door that keeps it dark and secure at night and when away. There is a second futon couch in the main living space that can turn into a bed as pictured in the front room which also would be comfortable for extra people to stay. The Kitchen is fully equipped with all one would need, with a gas oven and gas stove that are brand new as of May 2022. For longer stays, there is a large cupboard/wardrobe space, one of the biggest I have seen in Florence and there is also a full washing machine and even a dryer! This is the first time I have seen this in Europe, although to save energy and the environment I prefer not to use it, I could see it would be useful now and then with long term stays for bedding etc. The bathroom is all renovated and brand new and works wonderfully - good shower pressure (rare in Florence) and plenty of hot water (also rare) oh also a dishwasher. The wifi is Fiber and very fast - I tested it at 200Mbps. Renovations are really nicely done with the lighting and such, and the quality of bedding was lovely too ( something not always found in my experience! I also appreciated that the place was spotless and immaculately clean but not laden with harsh smells and chemicals, and he/his cleaners used eco-based cleaners, something maybe not important for everyone but if you are sensitive to strong scents and harsh chemicals I highly recommend this air bnb!
I don't usually like ground floor apartments because they tend to be dark and have overhead noise - but this was not at all the case for either point. The floors above must be very well insulate/built, and with its big tall windows it was beautifully light all day.
Overall I felt very safe and secure, the place is quiet and private, is equipped all of the comforts of home and would be good for both short and long stays, and has an excellent layout, and Massimo is an extremely generous, kind and accommodating. I would absolutely stay here again - I'd live there if I could -it soon will be considered "rare find" on air bnb and will be booked up I am sure.