My husband and I can’t say enough good things about Cris & Marco and their AirBnB.
There are some AirBnB’s that pretty much operate like a less expensive hotel, you have minimal interaction with the host and the room is good. Staying with Cris and Marco feels like you are staying with family friends who have a warm, inviting home and really want to ensure you have a lovely time in their city. From the first interaction via message, Cris made sure we had every possible detail needed about the room, how to get there from multiple start points, and was very responsive.
Cris shared a map she created and emails/shares with all guests that includes details only a local would know - the best restaurants that the locals love (she even showed us a list of options with various price levels), unique shops, areas of town a tourist wouldn’t likely find on their own, and she even told us how to find an incredible view of the city that was even better than the one in all the guide books/websites but isn’t overcrowded.
The building is from the 15th century and was actually the home of Cris’s grandmother. The rooms have a lot of eclectic charm, and as a former house-cleaner I really appreciated that bathroom was SPOTLESS. It was also VERY reasonably priced. We didn’t try the breakfast she offers because we were out and about a lot, but I really wish we had. I came back while Marco was cooking one night and didn’t realize that have a Tuscany farm and are incredible cooks!
The only “cons” are there isn’t an elevator (which is very normal for Italy and older buildings), so it would be challenging to stay here if you have mobility challenges. There was a plug in air conditioner in the room, but it was also a record heat wave across Europe the summer we traveled, so it was a bit warm.
If we come back to Italy, I feel we would prioritize coming back to Florence just to stay with Cris and Marco again!