I stayed with Raffaelle for about 1 week during my trip to Italy and loved every moment of it. Raffaelle is a true gentleman, very kind and helpful sharing with you some great spots around the historic centre, such as the Oblate Library with an awesome view of the Cuppola and the Hall of the 500 in Palazzo Vecchio. He is very keen to expand on his english but communication was never a problem, in fact he & Vincenzo were both very swift responding to my enquiries. The room is very comfortable with a very comfy bed and your own bathroom and access to use Raffaelle's kitchen. You have all you need as a base for sightseeing. Location wise, it was very central but away from the tourist crowd. The street is full of shops, cafes and restaurants and full off people both night and day. As a solo female traveller I felt very safe. It is located a few minutes walk to Piazza Beccaria where you can catch most buses such as the bus to Piazza Michaelangelo or the electric bus that goes through the historic centre to Firenze SMN train station. In terms of walking distance, 10 or so minutes to reach the Arno River and 15-20mins to reach most of the key piazzas - Piazza Della Signoria, Piazza Republica, Piazza Del Duomo. Location wise, I couldn't have asked for better. My only recommendation is if you are catching the C2 bus to Raffaelle's with a large luggage, for comfort you may want to consider a taxi. The C2 bus is a tiny bus made to get through the narrow streets of the historic centre. I was coming from SMN train station around 2pm on a week day and it was extremely crowded. With 2 pieces of small luggage it was a rough ride. However once you are settled, Raffaelle's kind hospitality will make your stay in Florence memorable. Raffaelle also enjoys baking which makes for a great opportunity to chat and learn about life in Italy from a true local. Raffaelle's cats Coco & Chanel were lovely also. If you are looking for a place that will take you away from the intense tourist areas and more of a local vibe, Raffaelle's place will be right up your alley.