You will be hard-pressed to find a more romantic Florence apartment. The Anna Florence vacation apartment is located on Via di Santo Spirito just a few blocks from the Ponte Vecchio on the gentrified Oltrarno side of the river. It’s a romantic, beautifully decorated apartment that will make for a special stay in Florence. Via di Santo Spirito is a charming street lined with elegant antique shops, artisan workshops and boutiques in an ideal location for exploring Florence. Our list of favorite local restaurants in the guest confirmation will give you a good starting point for sampling the fare at one of the many good restaurants in the area. The Uffizi Gallery & Duomo are just across the river, less then a 10-minute walk, the Pitti Palace is 5-minutes away. Take a leisurely stroll through the nearby Boboli Gardens, which were once the private, palatial gardens of the Medici family during the Renaissance. Every so often a guest will ask for recommendations on the most romantic place in Florence for a wedding proposal. In our opinion, it's a toss-up between the Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michaelangelo, both on the Oltrarno side of the river. However, the terrace of the Anna apartment might just be the best spot to "pop the question" at sunset when the church bells toll!

Two blocks from the apartment Piazza Santo Spirito welcomes you with cafes and restaurants that line the piazza. Several fresh produce stands are open in the piazza in the morning where you can buy provisions for lunch or dinner. Enjoy rummaging through the houseware vendors' stalls and spot the local signore shopping for kitchen utensils, dishtowels, bedroom slippers, tablecloths and an interesting assortment of household bric-a-brac. You’ll start to feel like a local! Mid-day the stalls close up and the noon time crowd emerges to enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants in the piazza and and along the streets of the neighborhood. Presiding over the piazza is the Santo Spirito church, designed by Brunelleschi and completed in the late 1400’s. Next door to the church is the Cenacolo di Santo Spirito, a small museum that was once the refectory of the Santo Spirito church. The quiet side streets that crisscross the neighborhood are a welcome refuge from the busy streets just across the river and are lined with fine old Medieval buildings and small artisan workshops that craft beautiful Florentine furniture. A personal favorite is the bespoke men’s shoe shop located diagonally across from the church where you can see custom shoe forms lining the wall. Peer through the window to observe a craftsmen hand sew shoes for his elite clientele, usually with an apprentice or two peering over his shoulder. Clients of this store come back year after year for elegant custom shoes. Only a few minutes walk away is the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, famous for the Brancacci Chapel where you can see Renaissance masterpiece, The Life of St. Peter frescoes. If you are up for a bit of exercise, head out for an invigorating walk up to the Forte di Belvedere or Piazzale Michelangelo to take in gorgeous views of the city of Florence.

In addition to the historic sites, the neighborhood has a wealth of good restaurants, food shops and a favorite bakery just down the street.

The Anna Florence rental apartment delights the visitor with comfortable, elegant furnishings and amenities. A rare find in Florence is the delightful terrace off the living room. The terrace overlooks the tile rooftops and cupola of the Santo Spirito church. Planted window boxes hanging from the wrought iron railing, adding a touch of greenery.

The butter-yellow fresco style walls of the apartment give a soft hue and provide a warm backdrop for the elegant style of the apartment, complemented by high ceilings with exposed beams. Great care has been taken in the thoughtful remodeling to make excellent use of the space, capped by decor that is tasteful, comfortable and elegant.

The living room sofa is flanked by a comfortable wing-backed chair and an ottoman. Good reading lights, custom cabinetry and charming decorative touches add to the comfort and appeal. The antique dining table has seating for four, in the event you want to invite friends over for a meal. Step up to the small but efficient kitchen, which is up a half-level and overlooks the living room. It is fully furnished with pots, pans, dishes and is decorated with hand-painted Italian ceramic tiles and a marble countertop,

At the opposite end of the living room is the sleeping alcove, partially hidden behind soft, sheer linen drapes that hang from behind the arch that leads to the alcove. While this is a studio apartment, the layout still provides some measure of privacy and space given the separation between the living areas.

The tiled bathroom has been fully updated and has a large step-in shower with glass doors, sink and toilet.

A special characteristic of this apartment is the feeling of light and space due to the high ceilings which contribute to the overall volume of the apartment. Add to that the easily accessible outdoor space on the terrace, the draped sleeping alcove and the step-up kitchen, and this doesn’t feel like an ordinary studio apartment. What a romantic getaway for a very special vacation in Florence.

The apartment building does not have an elevator and is located on the 5th floor (4th floor European) so guests have an opportunity to work off pasta and gelato indulgences. Guests are advised plan their luggage accordingly since it’s a hike to get heavy suitcases up the steps, and, because it is a studio apartment there is very limited storage space for large luggage. Once at the top though, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with splendid views, a quiet and beautiful apartment for a memorable Florence stay.

This is a non-smoking, no pets apartment.

US Dollars
Good value: US Dollars Price!
$1595/7 nights; $1505/6 nights; $1310/5 nights US Dollars
1 week minimum Easter, Christmas, New Year's
Utilities included up to a generous 15 Kwh/day
Sorry no pets, no smoking

Bedrooms: Studio apartment with queen bed.

Bathroom: Large fully enclosed shower, toilet, sink. Heated towel racks when heat is on. Hairdyer provided.

Number of Guests: Two people maximum

Size: 463 square feet

Elevator: No elevator. 5th floor US (4th floor European designation). 66 steps to apartment.

Terrace: A small terrace overlooks rooftops & cupola of Santo Spirito Church

Kitchen: Two-burner gas stove top, Italian & French presse coffeepots, small combination combination regular/convection oven with broiler, refrigerator.

Air Conditioning & Heat: No air conditioning. Central heating.

Washer/Dryer: Washer – yes. Dryer – no. Drying rack, clothesline, iron & ironing board provided.

Phone & Internet: Fixed phone line with dial-up Internet access. Internet point down the block, several others in the neighborhood. Loaner cell phone.

Home Electronics – Radio, high quality CD system, cassette tape player. No TV.

Linens: Bed linens and towels provided.

Neighborhood: Santo Spirito area of Oltrarno area of Florence. Easy walk to all major sites. Uffizi Gallery about 8 minutes, Ponte Vecchio 2 minutes.