The apartment is spectacular, exactly as it appears in the photos. Every guest who visited could not stop commenting about how wonderful it looks. Frescoes on the ceiling! Because the property is located one long block from the river, it is very well-situated. Piazza Santo Spirito, where a daily market is held, is an easy 5-minute stroll. Many of the best restaurants are quite nearby, and the area is full of artisan shops and far fewer tourists than the other side of the Arno - which is still reached in about 15 minutes.

Filippo's assistant, Elizabeth, was on hand for check-in, and was available to help with any questions. One day, she brought over one of the Mazzei wines and a bottle of their olive oil as gifts; another day, she arranged a purchase of more of the family's wines for a dinner party. When I had trouble with the keys at first, she was right there (and really patient)!

I would like to address the following comments only to guests who may have mobility or other physical limitations. For everyone else, they probably don't matter:

Stairs are very difficult for me. I walk with a cane due to an inner ear disorder that causes imbalance and arthritis, so I look for properties on the ground or first floor. In my inquiry, I made sure the host knew this, and was assured that there was an elevator. Most places in Firenze do not have them; in fact, it's not that common in Europe, even more so in such an old, historic city, where there are laws about what you are allowed to change or update. The apartment is up 60 stairs, and when the elevator was not working (four times in the month I was there), it was a major hurdle to get in and out of my apartment. If you are in good shape, then this probably will not be a concern for you.

Some people like a very firm mattress. It was. Very. It was not one mattress, but in fact two twin mattresses pushed together, so there was a odd center division that felt rather unpleasant for someone accustomed to having a one-piece mattress. After the first few days, I moved to the sofa in the living room, and never used the bedroom except to pass through on my way to the bathroom.

The bathroom is up two very steep stone steps, which are difficult to manage for anyone with physical disabilities. The edge of the shower-over-tub combination came to two inches above my knees: not easy to maneuver in and out.

As another guest suggested, be sure you understand the detailed instructions of the washer-which-is-also-a-dryer.

Many of these quirks can be explained in the context of a very old (1400s?) Medieval palazzo. It wasn't built for 21st-century people! If you want an authentic Florentine experience, you can't do better than this.