The ambiance at Ghibellina Terrace totally elevated our experience of Florence. The view from the terrace is even better than the pictures, as the apartment is situated above almost all other rooftops. Windows on 4 sides create a light-filled space that is cozy. That being said, my husband and I stayed here for 4 weeks, which was enough time for all of the apartment's "quirks" to shine through. Some of them (like the hard beds) are common to most Italian rentals, some are unique. Overall, I would stay here again in a heartbeat, but here is a list of pros and cons:
Pros: 1) THE VIEW! Honestly this alone is worth putting up with all the cons, 2) cute ambiance and relatively comfy furniture, 3) endless hot water in the bathroom, 4) wifi is consistent and fast enough for leisure activities like booking tourist stuff and streaming videos, 5) there's a bluetooth speaker for playing music, 6) the neighborhood is great. Short walk to the center, but far enough that the neighborhood has it's own vibe and you are away from the tourist crowds. 2 blocks from Sant Ambrosia market. Lots of cool restaurants and bars that seem to filled with locals instead of tourists. Hosts gave some good recommendations.
Cons: 1) Communication with the hosts was really inconsistent. After check-in, hosts were almost absent for the first 2 weeks of our trip, but luckily our issues weren't urgent then. During the second 2 weeks it was much better. 2) The loft is not full height, and requires and adult to stoop over while on the second floor. The stair leading up to it is steep and the main roof support beam is in the way so it's easy to bash your head. I'm pretty sure the murphy bed downstairs is actually a box spring. 3) The power to the entire unit tripped off several times over the course of 36 hours one day. We were able to flip the main breaker and restore each time, but no idea why that happened. 4) The windows leak steadily into the apartment when it rains, so don't store your electronics on the windowsills! 5) There's five flights of stairs to the apartment, the (very slow) elevator only goes up 3 flights. We didn't care about this, but less mobile people may have issues. 6) wifi is NOT fast enough for virtual meetings or some work-related activities, so remote professionals be aware.
Again, we loved the apartment, and the pros surely outweigh the cons, especially if you are staying for a week or less. Long term stays may need to pay a bit more attention to the quirks.