My husband and I just returned from 10 weeks in Florence on a study abroad program and were very pleased with our stay at Martina’s apartment. This will be a longer review, as we were in the apartment for a lengthy stay. The apartment is comfortable and well situated. We felt at home immediately, being greeted warmly by Martina’s mother, Paola. We only had one or two issues during our stay, which were immediately fixed by Paola, who could not have been more helpful or welcoming. The apartment is one story up from the street. It is a comfortable size for the area, with a pleasant living room, a small balcony for a morning espresso and people watching, a modern bathroom and kitchen, and a nice-sized bedroom with a very comfortable bed. There is lots of storage space, which was particularly important for us during the long stay. The kitchen is well appointed with a gas-stove top, microwave, and a good-sized tabletop oven. There is also a dishwasher, clothes washer, refrigerator and a separate small freezer, which was particularly welcome. The apartment is located in the Oltrano area of Florence, across the Arno River from the main attractions, several doors from the Ponte alla Carraia, which is two bridges from the Ponte Vecchio. It is located in a neighborhood full of artisans, craftsmen, great restaurants, and friendly people--a much more low-key and friendly atmosphere than that close to the Duomo or Uffizi. Yet these attractions are only a ten or fifteen minute walk away, either by strolling along the Arno or through charming, narrow streets. We were always surprised to find how close everything is in this eminently walkable city full of magnificent art. Everything is in walking distance from the apartment, with two grocery stores either 1.5 or 3 blocks away, several nearby fruit and vegetable stands, a wonderful neighborhood bakery downstairs, and a branch of a popular pizza place and several excellent restaurants within the same block. Our favorite haunt was the Carraia gelato store, in the next building, which deserves their place at the top of the Florence best gelato lists. Hemingway’s, the nightspot for decadent dark hot chocolate is nearby, just beyond the Piazza Carmine, the location of the Brancacci Chapel frescoes. The apartment is near Piazza San Spirito, which is bordered by many restaurants and boasts a produce and clothing open market every morning. Some of the restaurants serve a good dinner buffet for the price of a drink. Check first though, as many restaurants do not open for dinner until 7:30. We kept finding more excellent family run restaurants within a few blocks walk on the Oltrano side, plus more in the central Duomo area. The only caveat concerns the neighborhood bar across the street, mentioned in several of the postings. It is open late most nights, with people congregating outside in good weather. But the bedroom is located in the back of the apartment, where it is quiet.