Comfortable, bright, spacious, and very convenient apartment near all of the main attractions in Florence, but just enough off the tourist path to allow you to escape the hordes when you want. Lovely view -- Piazza Michealangelo, a peek of the Arno river, gardens cascading down the opposite bank -- from the small terrace. It's a 10-min walk to the Duomo, Piazza Pitti, etc., and less than 5 min to Santa Croce and the leather school. (It's also right on a bus line, but we didn't use the buses.)

The apartment is probably huge by Italian standards (certainly by Manhattan standards), and comfortably furnished. Nothing fancy, paint fading a bit, but very clean and comfortable. The kitchen has everything you need too... including plenty of cookware, dishes and glasses, a dishwasher, a microwave, and a washing machine (no dryer, just hang your clothes.) The shower is a bit ungainly (stand in the narrow tub and extend a folding screen down the edge of the tub to keep the water inside)... my very elderly Mom would have trouble getting in and out, but it was no issue for us, and there was good water pressure and plenty of hot water. The building itself is secure, and there is an elevator in the building too. There's a market less than a block up the street, too.

Rafaella is a thoughtful hostess, and very responsive to questions. She went out of her way to leave her own work and meet us at the apartment and check us in early (when we arrived in Florence well before the typical check-in time.) She also left us fruit, biscuits, a bottle of wine, and homemade jam!