Tommaso welcomed me with a bottle of Chianti and chilled water to his very nice apartment. He showed me everything I needed to know about the place, and then left me to my own devices to enjoy my stay - perfect. The apartment is compact, very clean and warm. It is ideally located- just minutes from the Arno river and perfect for a 10 minute walk into the heart of Florence while being away from all the crowds. If you are arriving in Florence by train or bus, the apartment is only a 5 minute walk from the station at Santa Maria Novella. Access to the apartment from the lobby is by stairs or if this is a problem, by way of a modern lift. I didn't need to use the lift myself but I can appreciate how it might be a factor for some. Across the street is a small but well stocked supermarket, an excellent bakery and a bar/caffé for the morning breakfast of coffee and pastry. The kitchen is well appointed if guests wish to be self sufficient in terms of meals, though of course one of the highlights of Florence is the availability of great restaurants. Tommaso was able to point these out to me at my check-in and this was a great help. I have reason to visit Florence once or twice a year and I will be hoping to book myself into this apartment again.