When I saw the photos of the studio while sitting at my desk in Schenectady, New York, I could immediately imagine living there. And my actual experience proved even better.

Valeria, who handles bookings and logistics, is prompt, efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable. And her mother Lucrezia, who lives next door, is erudite, hospitable, and always willing to help. I was even lucky enough to receive an invitation to dinner when Lucrezia's daughter Valeria was visiting from Paris. It was a memorable evening, and I learned much about the great flood of Florence and local archives on Tuscan jails. But I digress...

I was in Florence for a spring term with fourteen college students. They studied Italian and I taught a class on ancient religion and mythology at Eurocentres-Firenze in Piazza Santo Spirito, a mere eighty steps from the studio. My commute was about forty-five seconds (although on some days the daily market proved more tempting than others). A late-night convenience store and a bakery were literally right next door. Coffee shops, fruit stands, dry-cleaners, laundromat, a discount grocery store, restaurants of all sorts are all within a two-block radius. Ponte Vecchio is less than a five-minute walk.

And the room itself was quite comfortable for a stay of over two months. Lucrezia had a specialist bring additional equipment for WiFi shortly after I arrived, and the WiFi was generally very good. There is a private bathroom with excellent shower, a dresser, a wardrobe, a desk a couch, a loft bed, two chairs, a small porch that overlooks a courtyard. One can see the spire of Santo Spirito through the windows and from the porch. There is no kitchen, but the panini-style toaster, hot water kettle, and electric espresso machine provided more than enough cooking opportunities for me. I could have lived in that room quite happily for years.

And I was even able to accommodate guests (my daughters) for short stays on the couch.

Grazie mille, Valeria e Lucrezia!