Piero met us at the train station and helped lead us to the apartment - a very big help! People were everywhere and working our way through the crowds on and off of the very narrow sidewalks was an experience. The apartment was very well appointed and Piero made sure that we had directions to all of the appliances. He knows that the washer/dryer combo isn't all it's cracked up to be, for us, anyway. The spa bath was unique, but no shelving or towel hooks. The apartment was right next door to the grocery store which was awesome! The location was perfect - close to the Duomo, the Uffizi and Accademia - we walked everywhere. Restaurants right outside the door - we were VERY happy with the apartment and Piero' s constant availability.

Brilliantly located between the Mercato Centrale, the station, and the Duomo. Nowhere is far away but it is not in the noisy touristy part of town. The market has wonderful food, fresh pasta and amazing bread, If you don't want to go far the Conad store next door is as well provided as any supermarket - a bit of a tardis, looks small but opens out into several dimensions.
Pietro is, as everyone says, very helpful and obliging. Always available though you are most unlikely to need any extra info.
It is a great mixture if hi tech and traditional furnishings. It really has been most thoughtfully worked out.

My husband and I have just had a lovely holiday in Florence. Pier's apartment is modern, clean and well kept in a very convenient place for everything. His instructions were great and the little touches of fresh fruit, beer wine etc were very welcome. Nothing was a problem and he even left us a phone to contact him if needed. A little noise during the night from the local bars but as you are right in the center you would get that anywhere. The apartment is on the 2nd floor with a lift, although to get a wheelchair into it would be difficult. I am very particular and would totally recommend this apartment. We hope to go back again soon!

If you’re considering renting an apartment in Florence for a vacation stay, then you’re obviously smarter than almost all other tourists in the city.  When you compare the cost of an apartment to the cost of a 4 or 5 star hotel, they are almost comparable.  Once you factor in the cost savings of cooking your own (occasional) meals and doing your own laundry (you can pack incredibly lightly when you have access to a washer and dryer), the apartment option seems pretty appealing.  The problem, then, is finding an apartment that is fairly priced, centrally located, modern and clean, and staffed by a great manager.  The solution to that problem is the apartment at Santa Maria Novella.

The property is located at 3 Via del Melarancio.  This location is no more than 20 minutes walk to virtually any attraction in Florence - most are within a 10 minute walk.  Additionally, the apartment is less than a 5 minute walk from the Florence train station, with an underground tunnel that leads from the station to the square that the building is on, so you don’t even need a taxi from the train to the apartment.   

When we arrived for a 2 week stay, we were greeted personally by the apartment manager Piero.  His english was better than ours (we’re American), and he escorted us directly to the 3rd floor apartment.  We were pleasantly surprised at the modern, spacious, and clean appearance of the property.  Piero took time to show us all of the amenities and how to operate the air conditioning, the incredible combination shower and turkish steam bath, the satellite TV, dishwasher, washer/dryer, and even the courtesy pre-paid cell phone to use for local calls.  He also gave us a map of Florence marked with his recommendations for attractions and restaurants.    

The fully appointed kitchen was stocked with pots, pans, coffee/tea making equipment, silverware, plates, bowls, etc.  To our delight, there was a market literally outside the front door of the apartment building that is fully stocked with fresh produce, fresh meats, cheeses, breads, wine, liquor, toiletries - everything you’d find in a supermarket.  This made it possible for us to cook breakfast every morning, and when we felt like it, prepare a snack in the kitchen in the afternoon.  The kitchen saved us hundreds of dollars on meals, and the meats and cheeses that they have in the market would be considered “high-end” or “exotic” in America.  If you really like to cook, the Florence Central Market is only a 5 minute walk away, and it rivals any market that you’d find in Manhattan (fresh fish/seafood, fresh meat, every kind of fresh produce imaginable).  

Piero was easily one of the most helpful people we met in all of Europe.  We began corresponding with him almost a year before we actually came to Italy, and he responded almost instantly to any message that we sent to him.  He was patient and understanding as we juggled our schedule and settled on our dates.  His responsiveness and cooperation took much of the stress off of us while planning our vacation. 

An ice maker, a K-Cup coffee machine (in addition to traditional coffee equipment), U.S AC adapters . . . this property had everything we could want.  Piero personally stopped by to make sure that everything was satisfactory. The unexpected personal touches, along with the high-quality accommodations and highly convenient location, made our stay in Florence even more memorable.