Sofia's place felt like a second home to me. The rooms are large, beautiful, well-furnished, and comfortable. As a scholar of music, the books, piano, and sound system were welcome. I rarely used the outdoor space because my visit was in January, when the weather is cool and sometimes wet, but there was always a lot of light in the flat. The kitchen is very large and I was able to cook up many a fine meal when I was not eating at local places (of which there are several for a variety of cuisines).
I had stayed in Florence before but usually in the historic center. My decision to stay just outside this area paid off in many ways: the apartment was quiet, the neighborhood less crowded and more authentically local (there were no tourists), and the overall ambience lovely. Yet in 10-15 minutes by bike or a bit longer by foot, I was able to access all the main sites in the city. It was the best of both worlds.