Just WOW! Stefania's apartment is amazing!
Let's start with location: It's literally across from the Mercado Centrale (above the leather shops), 5-7 minutes walking from the train/bus stations, 5 minutes from the Airport tram, 7-8 minutes from the Duomo. The Carrefour supermarket was 5 minutes away and some of the best traditional trattorias, eateries and street food in Florence were all within 5 minutes walk. We could not imagine a more conveniently located apartment. And since one will be walking quite a lot in Florence, being able to stay at an apartment so conveniently located is a huge deal!
Yet, it's not only the location, but how Stefania has made this apartment an incredibly beautiful place to stay. Everything is first class, and we mean everything. The materials she chose -- beautiful wooden floors, the top-of-the line kitchenware, the appliances, the furniture and electronics, the bathroom, the decor accents, the beds (bedroom and sofa beds), the sheets, pillows, towels, and even the shampoos are all chosen to be of the best quality possible. The whole intent is not just to make you feel at home, but very much pampered.
We were a family of 4 (2 early teenage children) and stayed there for 6 days, so we were able to make thorough use of the entire apartment and all its amenities. We can tell you that nothing is missing. We had great home cooked meals. With the Central market right across, we were able to get the freshest produce and groceries, or choose to get prepared meals to bring back and eat at the apartment.
Finally, Stefania and her staff (Valeria and Lucia) were always communicating with us through the entire experience. Stefania booked a hard-to-get restaurant reservation prior to our stay at our request, and was very flexible to fit check-in and check-out procedures with our travel plans. She personally ensured that the apartment was clean and ready for us. Valeria brought us a nice welcome basket of local produces and foods and gave us great pointers, including transportation procedures to the airport via Tram (don't forget to stamp your ticket inside the tram, as we witnessed another couple get a huge fine for not doing so) and Lucia checked us out at the end of our stay at a time that worked for us.
I usually don't write long and eloquent reviews of our Airbnb stays. Stafania's deserved one and we were delighted to have been her guests in Florence. It was the highlight of our trip in Italy...