I stayed at Walter's apartment for 11 days with my husband and 7-month-old baby, and our time there was lovely. The location is ideal--walking distance to everything we wanted to see in Florence, much less crowded than the neighborhoods across river, and surrounded by inexpensive and delicious food.

Walter himself is a thoughtful and responsive host who we saw quite a bit of during our stay because the building was being restored. When an electrician accidentally cut the DSL cables, Walter made sure we had Internet access again within the day. He was also very generous with recommendations and kitchen staples (wine, olive oil, coffee, etc.).

The apartment is simple and clean, with lots of light in the front room and vintage furniture and decorative touches throughout. The bed is very firm (which is apparently preferred in Italy);there were plenty if blankets and linens. The kitchen has an assortment of pots and pans and a 4-burner gas range, which we used extensively. If you're tall, you'll need to watch your head on the way into the WC, but the endless hot water supply in the shower more than makes up for it.

All in all, we thought Walter's place was an outstanding value, and we'll definitely stay again if we're lucky enough to return to Florence!