A Genuine Florence Experience

• One month Fall visit

  One month Fall visit

  • Guest Tuscan Traveler
  • Date of stay 09/17/12
  • Review Submitted 10/17/12
  My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at this property for a month. The description of the location and house were accurate and the photos, if anything, did not do justice to the beauty of the property. The house was clean and extremely well equiped. Anything we needed was always there. The owner's 42 page House Book is incredible; it contains not only detailed instructions on how everything worked in the house, but also extensive suggestions for local restaurants, sights, food purchases, gellato etc. The House Book was also filled with helpful tips on using the bus system, hiring a taxi, finding a dry cleaner, taking day trips, tipping customs, shops, menu selections and many other bits of information that saved us time and permitted us to feel more like a local than a tourist. I am now convinced that if one has a week or more to visit Tuscany, the most enjoyable and efficient way to do it is to stay in Florence and take day trips to Siena, Lucca, and the many hill towns within an hour or two away. And, of course, Florence makes the best headquarters because of its central Tuscan location and rich collection of art, museums, restaurants and sights. We highly recommend this property. I should also add that the owner was responsive and a pleasure to deal with.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

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• A quiet retreat

  A quiet retreat

  • Guest John S.
  • Date of stay 12/15/11
  • Review Submitted 03/17/12
  My family and I stayed here for two months over Christmas/New Year's and found it to be a quiet oasis from the main tourist spots. However, it is a vibrant neighborhood in its own, filled with native Florentines going about their day. We loved being near the Boboli Gardens and frequented it to run around, draw, and read; it is five minute walk away and one of the beautiful gardens of Europe. We loved the local restaurants and businesses and quickly felt at home. But the apartment was close to everything, and strolling to Uffizi for the afternoon was a simple delight. The house itself is beautiful, functional, and impeccably maintained. It is marble throughout, and even has a ceiling fresco in the master bedroom. Everything is there to make your stay comfortable and eventful, from (if you're lucky) new oil and spices to a great library of everything Florence. The beds were extremely comfortable, and sleeping was a pleasure there. The owner was very responsive and friendly and accommodating, and she made every effort to help us navigate Florence and Italy. Her property manager, Lori, was a gem. She answered every question, had helpful suggestions, and we felt we were never alone there. I can't say enough about the property, the owner and agent, and Florence. You will have a perfect vacation here.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

  Owner response: Thank you for the nice review. We are so glad you liked the house and the neighborhood, and the proximity to the Boboli Gardens, local restaurants and shops.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing Home Away From Home

  Amazing Home Away From Home

  • Guest Aimee
  • Date of stay 10/02/10
  • Review Submitted 06/06/11
  We loved every single thing about this property. The decor, the rooftop patio, the space, the amenities, the location, the house book, the bedding, the furniture, the attentive property management... everything! Staying in an Italian neighborhood, shopping at the nearby market, eating at the nearby trattorias, walking out the door and all over the city... our vacation was a dream, thanks in large part to where we stayed. Highly recommended!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

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• Ditto!

  Ditto!

  • Guest Cindy
  • Date of stay 12/18/10
  • Review Submitted 01/19/11
  Ditto to what has been said in all of the previous reviews. We would stay here again in a heart beat. The property is exactly as described and the neighborhood is wonderful-markets, restaurants-everything within a 5 minute walk. You can walk to the train station in 15-20 minutes, the Ponte Vecchio in 15 minutes-the center of Florence in 20 minutes-and all the while working off all of the pasta and wine that you have consumed. Could not have asked for a better experience in Florence!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Wonderful Stay

  Wonderful Stay

  • Guest Bill & Christine
  • Date of stay 10/15/10
  • Review Submitted 11/01/10
  We had a wonderful experience staying at this home in Florence in October 2010. We have rented vacation apartments in Europe several times, but this was certainly our best stay. The home has everything you could want or need. The property manager met us at the home to show us how everything worked, and provided us with lots of good information on the city. The furnishings and bedding were very comfortable. The rooftop terrace was a nice plus, as was the office. I brought my laptop along and the WIFI worked perfectly. The owner even provides two cellphones as well as a landline phone. The location is also great. It's a nice quiet neighborhood but still within walking distance to the Ponte Vecchio.The neighborhood has trattoria's, bakeries, etc. The Essalunga Supermarket is an easy 10 minute walk as well. The next time we visit Florence we would not even consider staying anywhere else but here.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• An outstanding property leveraging the quintessential Florentine experience

  An outstanding property leveraging the quintessential Florentine experience

  • Guest Melissa
  • Date of stay 07/03/10
  • Review Submitted 07/20/10
  This is, quite simply, the finest property we have rented via VRBO or any other fee-based agency. The property itself, explained in detail in the listing is absolutely true with the exception that it doesn't quite capture how beautiful, well-maintained and unique this property actually is. Words can't convey how beautiful the house is, the high quality linens, antique Vietri tiles, ceiling murals and wall paintings (20th C). The owner provides the most detailed house book I have ever encountered anywhere. The property manager was unavailable when we checked in and out but the book covered all aspects of the house to the smallest items (what to expect from the toaster, how to open a shutter). For those who have lived in Italy, these may be customary (I have and some were, some were not). For those who have not, they can be a challenge but no worries, the house book covers it all. It's impossible to imagine that a city vacation could be in a property so tranquil and quiet, but indeed it is. When you open the vestibule door, the city noise floods the space. Close it and an oasis of quiet descends. Coming from a country house that is quiet in the extreme and travelling with small children, we didn't anticipate the quiet would meet our expectations. It did and more. The apartment is located on a small neighborhood square, Piazza Tasso, with a children's park, soccer area, and music for dancing (if you have teenagers - I do). This is not Piazza Santo Spirito with marginal population (drunks, drug activity) -- it is a family park in a middle class neighborhood. Park Slope in Brooklyn or Adams Morgan in DC would be similar in spirit. The owner's recommendations for restaurants, places to shop, even to join the Friends of the Uffizi, were right on the mark. The Boboli Gardens of the Pitti Palace were our playground -- with the museum membership we entered with ease almost daily. When we came to the apartment, it was beautifully stocked with all necessary items, even milk, juice, bread, detergent, etc. We simply could not have asked for a better experience -- many thanks to Victoria for making our stay memorable and virtually seamless.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, people with disabilities.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• One of the best places I've stayed

  One of the best places I've stayed

  • Guest esavage
  • Date of stay 03/21/10
  • Review Submitted 04/18/10
  Our family spent 8 days in Florence during March and stayed at this wonderful apartment. What a luxurious and well-managed home. My wife and I traveled with our 11-yr old son and my wife's 80-yr old mother. If was really a great place for all age groups. The accommodations were just what we needed. The loft became my son's "hangout" and the bedrooms were perfect for the rest of us. It is richly appointed, with marble floors, a beautifully painted ceiling in the bedroom, and modern baths and kitchen. The kitchen was very well appointed, and the office was a great surprise. We were able to keep our laptops out of the dining and living areas, and there is even a printer and scanner that we could use! Plenty of guide books and maps as well. The terrace is a treasure. Private and well-maintained, with plants and sunshine ... a great place to hang out when you're weary of museums. The place is truly great, but the real treasure was the support we got from the owner and the management company. Victoria, the owner, was available for our every question. My family cannot eat gluten, and she did research about places to go before we even arrived in Florence. She even stocked a few gluten free items in the cupboards for us to eat on our arrival! We would send her occasional emails asking for recommendations for various things, and she was always happy to help. The management company is professional and on top of things, and had this great printout of answers to the top 1000 questions. It was a great resource for understanding how to get the most out of Florence. The house also comes with an in-depth house book with clear instructions on how to do everything from hook up the wireless, do the laundry or use the dishwasher, where to empty the garbage, etc. Top-notch service. We'd definitely go back, and we love the quiet location. We also found out they they have a rental home in the Tuscan countryside, too. That would be fun, and I know it would be well maintained.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/7

for 2-4 guests .. $1250/week
for 5-6 guests .... $1750/week
US Dollars or Euros accepted.
Two week minimum - arrival and departure on weekdays please.
Electricity, gas, and long distance calls not included.
Final cleaning included. Change of linens and cleaning each week, included. 
Security deposit US $500 - fully refundable.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.