I am a longtime traveler to Italy, having lived in various places for extended periods of time (Florence, Urbino, Genoa, and Rome). On this visit I stayed for over a month to do research in the archives and libraries of Florence. I was looking primarily for a nice, convenient place for work and sleep. This proved to be an ideal place.

The Place:
Among the places I've rented, Paola's apartment on Via de' Macci was undoubtedly the nicest. It has been recently refurbished, so everything is quite new and functional. Although the apartment is small, it is well-furnished with both storage space and amenities. The kitchen has everything one needs. I had no difficulties with any of the appliances. The bed was comfortable. The air conditioning provided a much-needed respite against the heat of summer and the fearsome mosquitoes. Without a hesitation I would stay here again.

The Host:
Paola is an extremely conscientious host. She met me at the apartment as planned on the night of my arrival, answered all of my questions, and was available throughout my time to address any minor concerns I had (usually she replied to emails within a matter of hours). Although we spoke mostly in Italian, my sense is that here English is quite good.

The Neighborhood:
The neighborhood is a lot of fun. It's one of the most dynamic little neighborhoods in the center of Florence; and while there are tourists present, the dominant flavor of the neighborhood is definitely Italian — in particular, lots of Italian students in their 20s hang out there at night. If you like street life, as I do, this is an ideal apartment. There are also a number of restaurants and bars (for aperitivo) in the streets radiating out from Piazza San Ambrogio. I almost always went out to aperitivo for dinner rather than cook for myself.