"The accommodation was excellent. It was very well equipped with normal household things, but I would request a better kettle, a more modern TV and to have face cloths (as a traveller I don't like having my own wet facecloth packed). Also very good to have window screens. Nice to be able to open the windows without letting insects in. We already knew the location and that was a factor in choosing Memoria. Perhaps a basic map showing local grocery shops would be helpful. Also an indication of where bus stops are for which number bus. (for example to get to the station) As Memoria is very central to sites it would not be necessary to indicate where they are. Yes, I would recommend Memoria to a friend, but the cost might be prohibitive. It was particularly useful to have a representative meet us there and explain the workings of the various appliances, which she did very well. Overall, a most enjoyable stay"
Joyce
"The pictures do not do the appt justice. The balcony and view out over the river and the Pont Vecchio on a sunny afternoon with a glass of wine is one life's ahhh moments. The location is excellent, close to everything including a grocery store just across the river. The only hitch was when the city turned off the water one evening - appearantly this happens with some regularity without warning. Francescia was a great resource and even arranged a taxi for us at 5am for us to catch our early flight. We would recommend this appartment to anybody who wants to be in the heart of the city and next door to a great gelato shop as well."
Ping
"My wife, Linda, and I had a wonderful stay in Venice and that the Serenata apartment was exactly as you depicted/described it - great location, nice facilities and the Altana - how fun! Paola was friendly, helpful and a real asset to getting us started - she met us (in the rain and windy chill) at the Zacaria stop when we arrived, helped us roll our luggage to the apartment and took time after familiarization to walk us to the grocery store and show us her personal choice for pizza slices - and even shared some stories with us as we walked along - such greeting really helps - please thank her for us.A great time and I will not hesitate to recommend Italy Perfect to friends looking for such lodging choices in Italy."
John & Linda B
"This apartment is all about the view and the location. Everyday, it was a privilege to wake up and go to sleep seeing the view of the Ponte Vecchio, Vasari Corridor and the Arno River. EVERYTHING is at your doorstep. Frank, whose wife owns the apartment is a wonderful guy and unbelievably helpful. While, there were a few things that did go wrong (no water one night, internet problems and the dryer didn't work) everything was taken care of as soon as possible. The apartment is furnished satisfactorily. It isn't a hotel so, if, you are interested in a Four Seasons or a Ritz...this isn't for you. It is, however, roomy and comfortable with tons of charm. The kitchen is very useable and having the dining area (convertible third bedroom) is a pleasure. The TV works great, especially after Frank showed us how to get channels in English. There is also a CD Player to use after you buy CD's from the fabulous street singers. For an extended stay this place is wonderful (we were there for a month). We felt like real "natives" and it was great to be able to have lunch or dinner at home , instead of going out for every meal. Overall, as you can tell, we loved our stay at Memoria."
Steven Hirsch
"We adored Mimi. It was perfectly set up for ourselves and our teenage son, who even had his own bathroom. The beds were blissfully comfortable, and the bedrooms were quiet with lovely views of the Tuscan hillside and roof tops. We loved sitting out on our balcony overlooking Piazza Santa Croce enjoying tea in the morning and cocktails before dinner. The sitting and dining rooms were beautifully decorated with lovely local ceramics and comfortably furniture. The highlight of Florence was the local gem of Santa Croce church with it's lovely art treasures, Pazzi chapel, cloisters and the superb leather workshop. The quality of the leather is superb, and you can have one of the artisans emboss your initials in your new purchases while you watch. We found the restaurant below our apartment to be very good homestyle cooking. The only negative aspect to our stay at Mimi was that we arrived to a Rock concert taking place in the Piazza which went all day till midnight. This Piazza has always been the focus for local celebrations since Renaissance times and while it was lovely to see it still being used and loved by the City, it was a bit of a surprise for us. Fortunately Palazzo Vecchio was open till Midnight that night, so it wasn't a big problem and our son enjoyed a free concert! My tips for Florentine sites: For tickets to all the major sites go to the ticket office at Or San Michele.We found the food at the Uffizi to be appaling, so we suggest eating lunch before you go, and booking for a 12:30 start to the Uffizi. Another treasure not to be missed was the exquisite Medici Chapel with it's stunning paintings of the Magi by Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. In summary, the Mimi apartment was a wonderful base for exploring all the wonders of Florence and we felt priveleged being in such an historic building."
M Hebbard
"We were lucky enough to be the first guests at the Paolina. The apartment is small, exactly as described, but very well appointed: the interior architect has worked very well with the available space to make a comfortable and enjoyable interior - we had no disappointments with our stay. I am 6'1" and didn't bump my head once on either the front door or the kitchen beam!Although many guidebooks suggest that tourists don't need to use the metro, anyone who spends more than a long weekend in Rome will be delighted to know that the Flaminia station really is just yards from the front door, for when the feet get tired (as they inevitably will do at some stage!) But most of central Rome is within comfortable walking distance.We thoroughly recommend the -second- small pizza shop as you come out the front door on the right: although it opens a little late, the pizzas are truly delicious. And for a less 'touristy' evening, Tree Bar is a friendly and popular local (no English menus here!) place about 1km down Via Flaminia. The cost of a taxi back from Trastevere (if nothing else, you must eat once at Dar Poeta!) is about 14 euros.We had a very pleasant and enjoyable stay, and have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending Paolina. Buone vacanze!"
Stuart & Asli
"We were very pleased to be among of the first guests to stay at the Paolina apartment. We were on a tight budget but really wanted something fairly close to the Spanish Steps area. The Paolina apartment certainly fit the bill! Cute and nicely furnished, we really enjoyed the convenient location and would have had to spend considerably more for a hotel room in the same area without benefit of a kitchenette and our own living room area to lounge in. The greeter Carlo spoke good English and was very friendly which made the arrival process go smoothly. The restaurant just out the front door and immediately to the left was good! Ate there several times. We would definitely stay here again. Thanks Italy Perfect for all your help and useful tips."
Marianne
"The apartment we rented was small but comfortable and has everything we needed. A bonus was the public area where were a computer was made available for sharing. A negative was the heater system where 2 apartments shared one heater controller. There was a bit of a discussion between us and the neighbouring (as there are 4 "apartments" in the one large flat) renter about what the temperature should be. The location of the apartment was a huge plus. Convenient and safe."
Steve Thomas
"My wife and I spent a week here and thoroughly enjoyed our time in the apartment. It is hard to explain how nice it feels to come up to a door on a street in Florence with the key to your own apartment. Pros: The location is fabulous. It is near to all the tourist sites and there are all the businesses that you need within a hundred yards. There is a bakery just outside the front door and a Salumeria just down the block. The Salumeria had a selection of cold cuts and a small selection of grocery items. They also had a few wines which were both reasonably priced and excellent. The Badia a Coltibuono was wonderful. Further up the block is a small supermarket with all the items you might need. There are a number of restaurants including one recommended by Rick Steves just across the street.The apartment is clean and comfortable. The bathroom is very nice and has a washing machine in it. There is also a large refrigerator just outside the bathroom. This apartment, and two others were part of a doctors office and home which is why there is the nice entry hallway. There are two (very) small balconies, one outside the living room and one outside the bathroom. These are in an air shaft so there is no view but there is also no street noise so the place is quiet at night. Con: Only one and not particularly important to us. The "kitchen" consists of a small cabinet which has a very small sink and an electric burner setup. This is not something for cooking a real meal but it did well for boiling eggs to go with the fresh rolls at breakfast. There are a number of places nearby where you can get good and inexpensive take out food. We tended to do that and have dinner in with a nice bottle of wine. There is also a microwave for heating food and water for tea and coffee. There is a computer available for all the apartments and there is also wireless internet access which worked very well for us. Would we stay here again? Certainly. This apartment offers charm and comfort. We would also very seriously consider the Prisco apartment just across the hall which is quite elegant and has a nice kitchen."
Doug
"We were very happy with our stay at this apartment. It fit our large extended family perfectly. Plenty of seating, space and light. Enjoyed people-watching in the piazza below. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. Thanks for all your suggestions and forthright information. Carey and Bill"
C. Corbey
"The Michaela was just right for us and what we wanted to do in our trip to Florence. The location cannot be beat. Via della Spada is an amazing street full of upscale shops and beautiful old cobblestone streets. The place itself was small but great for two people not spending a lot of time in the room itself. The sofa bed is comfortable, not a bed, but still was ok. It is an amazing deal if you compare it to similar hotels and we were able to experience Florence more like locals rather than tourists."
SF Traveler
"We had a great stay in Florence for the last leg of our Italian vacation. The Michaela apartment offered a home away from home. Franco and Miki were so welcoming and helpful. There are lots of great places to eat nearby and so much to do!"
Amanda
"The Michaela is a charming little studio in a fabulous location in Florence. The apartment is small, but has all the essentials. If you are not all about the frills, and location and price are important, this is the place for you. We loved the fantastic location near shops, restaurants, and tourist sites -- an easy to walk to most anywhere you want to go. The sofa bed is pretty comfortable considering what it is, but not ideal for extended days. Loved this place!"
Katie
"We spent Christmas and New Year at this lovely apartment and it was a pleasure to step out into the heart of the city, all festively decorated for the holidays. The location is unbeatable - within minutes of walk of major sights and shopping. We were comfortable, cozy and cheerfully welcomed by Miki and Franco. Welcoming the New Year as fireworks sparkled hgh over the Arno was amazing. Thanks for a wonderful experience."
Isabelle
"The apartment is delightful, well-furnished, clean, tidy and virtually soundproofed. Looking out the window at the gondolas gliding by was perfection for us. We loved the subtle Christmas decorations, including the tiny lighted tree dusted with snow. The kitchen had exactly what we needed for a light supper after a long day and large lunch. Within walking distance is Alle Testiere, superb food (primarily)in an intimate setting. We found a fabulous American guide, 20 year resident of Venice, Michael Broderick (venicescapes.org), whom the LA Times named the best guide in Venice. Rick Steves too. We agree and want to take all of his well-informed and researched tours. We would stay here again in a minute -- Paola was charming, patient, and gave us a great deal of info and confidence in our plans. We recommend you all heartily to all our friends! But, we want first dibs on Serenata! You worked with us beautifully to fashion our spontaneous last-minute trip to Venice for Christmas and New Year. Unforgettable. Thank you so much -- Pat and Doc"
Pat
"We just returned from our trip to Florence, and we had a wonderful time. The apartment was perfect; thank you for all of your help."
Katherine C.
"Miki and Franco met us at the apartment right on time and showed us through the checklist i.e. how the washing machine works. They are a delightful couple and even provided us with a bottle of and a Florence map! The apartment was fantastic with a large bedroom and very comfortable bed; large well equipped bathroom with a great walk in shower; very comfy living area with American coffee maker and coffee and a very serviceable kitchette; and even a safe. The building and apartments area is fantastic! Like a fortress just half a block from the Strozzi Palace and the shopping district right around the corner. The pastry shop 2 doors was fabulous and was Cafe Megara right next door. Just a delightful few minutes walk (location, location, location) to anywhere in Florence including the Mercato Centrale and the Ponte Vecchio. The neighborhood is great and very local (we never felt like strangers) even though it's just a few steps from major tourist sites. We loved them both - Florence and Strozzi! Because we had an early flight out Miki and Franco checked us out the evening before and even arraigned for a taxi (which was right on time) to pick us up for the airport. Oh, and seek out Ristorante Caruso on via della Moro for a fabulous meal and enertaining evening!"
kkoefler
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This was about our 6th or 7th rental in Europe and it was far and away the best. The apartment itself was terrific - clean and roomy. The location was perfect - nice, safe neighborhood away from the noise, but still within walking distance of everything. Food shopping at Il Centro was very handy and the little Salumeria?? a block away was very nice. We cooked a number of meals in because of the rainy week, and the kitchen was well-equipped. (The first place we have found really good cooking knives!) The american style coffee maker was nice. Great host - little touches like a bottle of olive oil, and a ride to the train station were very nice. We would recommend this apartment and your service to anyone. Best regards, Dave and Sally
"David & Sally H
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Our accommodations in Firenze were perfect in every way. The apartment location, near the American Consulate, was within walking distance of all the major attractions. The neighborhood was very quiet and clean. Our hostess/host definitely went the extra mile for us and made our stay a very comfortable and informative one. And a plus for us was that the building had an elevator which made getting luggage and groceries to our apartment much easier. There is a little market within walking distance of the Vespucci where we stocked up on breakfast and lunch items so we could splurge on our dinners. We ate our evening meal at terrific places but La Spada was the best! The food was stupendous and we felt very submerged in the Italian culture each time we ate there. We also enjoyed Baldini's which was just down the street from the little market and Buca Mario on the same street as La Spada. David, at Galleria Academia, is a must see--magnificent! Climbing the 463 steps to the top of the Duomo is so worth the gruelling climb. The view of Firenze from the top is a must see!! We absolutely loved Boboli Gardens--what an beautiful place to spend a day. Our walk through Point Vecchio was spellbinding! Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry!! Make sure you budget for this so you can bring a beautiful piece home with you as a forever souvenir. All said and done, we will definitely book any future travel through ItalyPerfect and its affiliates. Arrividerci!!
"Mitzi & Ed Puccinelli
"The accommodations were superior - the apartment a total surprise - beautifully decorated - conveniently located in the heart of Santa Croce - yet a peaceful, and most importantly, quiet haven after a day of sightseeing. Viewing the art was, of course, stunning, but so was the food. Would heartily recommend this heavenly oasis to anyone. Italy Perfect did a masterful job of providing information to make the stay in a foreign country easier."
Brtsy Hesser
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Our ten days in Florence were made even more wonderful by this amazing jewel of an apartment located in a clean, quiet and safe neighborhood just east of the city hub. Everything, and I really mean everything, was within easy walking distance which enabled us to experience Florence the very best way: on foot. As an added bonus to our daily walk, we were able to amble along beside the beautiful Arno going to and from the apartment. For the day trips we took (to Siena, Lucca, Borgo San Lorenzo and Rome) we were easily able to walk to both the train and bus stations. The apartment itself was immaculate and well furnished, and the greeter was very helpful in getting us oriented. She was also available for questions and suggestions throughout our stay which was a lifesaver when arranging for multiple cabs to the airport on the day of our departure! I will also add that the cost of the apartment was extremely reasonablel. All of the information that Italy Perfect sent in advance provided us with time-saving knowledge so that our time in Florence was spent doing things we wanted to do, not in trying to figure out how to navigate in a foreign city. Grazie! The greeter provided us with many suggestions for dining and grocery shopping, so, again, we didn't waste time spinning our wheels. My favorite feature of the apartment: two full bathrooms! For two couples this streamlined our daily schedule immensely. I would highly, and without reservation, recommend the services of Italy Perfect, and will most certainly consider using them again myself when planning another trip abroad. Again, thank you for your professional attention to all the details.
"Sue Maida