Florence Ciompi Apartments' Guestbook

Back to Florence Ciompi Apartments

Hello initaly,

Our trip to Italy was wonderful!! The Ciompi Apt. was great. The property manager was very well informed of tourist needs and very friendly. Thanks Kristin for all of your help. The only problem we had was a rental car from Hertz that started smoking!! We did return it for a different car.

Kathy B.

Dear Gang at Italy Online:

You asked for my comments - to sum it up - a BIG GIANT THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Generally, thanks to your frequent recommendations and trading of emails back and forth our trip was fantastic and the logistics an accommodations were superb. I never could have planned this myself, and I never believed each place I stayed in could be almost exactly what I what I expected and wanted. Also, the instruction documents you included with each location we stayed at was EXTREMELY helpful and on the mark. It gave us great instructions on how to get to each location from the airport or train station, and the contact numbers included were helpful- and the contact ALWAYS answered immediately.

Florence - Ciompi Apartments. An upscale apartment not in the noise and crowds of the tourist area, yet a 5 -10 minute walk to the Duomo, maybe 15 minutes to the Accademia or Ponte Vecchio. These apartments were very nice, all had beautifully tiled floors, very large modern rooms, kitchen, wireless internet etc etc etc. I would not hesitate a bit to stay there again. A major point I would like to make, and this was true of the Castello Apartments, is that you are in a local neighborhood setting, not in a hotel in the middle of the city. You can go to local bars, markets, piazzas etc, and be among the locals if you want. I found a wonderful bar a block away from the apartment, and from there I got suggestions of local restaurants to try. As a matter of fact, at this bar I was talking with a guy who walked in about a specific restaurant that was recommended in a guide book and very expensive. Turns out he was the cook at a local place, and many of the people there recommended it. So I cancelled my reservations at the expensive restaurant and went to Semolina (sorry I didn't write down the address but it is a 5 minute walk fro the Ciompi apartments). We had a tremendous Bistecca Fiorentina. Excellent pizza, and the local wine was great. We also ended up buying shots of grappa for the owners, and vice versa.

We went to Tata's one night- and that was a letdown, a tourist trap we fell into. I would never go there again.

We also booked a private tour of the Accademia and the Uffizi through your site. Now THAT was money WELL SPENT. To be honest, one of main reasons I booked the tour was to avoid waiting in the lines for tickets. Cristina was our guide's name, and boy was she a professional She took us to the Uffizi first. Now if we were there without a guide we would have quickly walked through the thousands of art works there, I am not sure what we would have gotten out of it. While Cristina knew the history of almost every piece there (I asked her that question), her tour concentrated on the key works, and how their styles transitioned and progressed throughout the Renaissance. We would skip many pieces, but sometimes spend 15 minutes on a particularly important work. I would highly recommend booking this tour.

One tip I can give if you are Catholic- Instead of waiting in long lines to get into the Duomo, go to mass on Saturday afternoon or Sunday. You gian immediate entrance and can look around the church all you want after mass.

Other Observations- you were right- I never needed a car, and having one would have been a complete hassle

Again please feel free to use any or none of my comments to assist you and others in planning their trip. To any future users of In Italy - trust these guys, they know exactly what they are doing. Not only did they help pick the right places to stay, but how many days to stay in each city, the order of cities to travel to, etc.

Bill G.

Dear In Italy,

We had such a great time, and we really appreciated doing business with you. I was especially impressed that when we left credit cards and money in the room, it was reported, and we are expecting them in the mail. Thank you so much! Car rental was arranged through you, and they were very nice and helpful. Our apartment in Florence was great, beautiful, clean and roomy. It was like home to us. I will definitely pass your name along and tell others to do business with you!

Thanks again!!
Carole S.

Dear In Italy,

The apartment was really lovely. We felt the atmosphere when we opened up the shutters on the square to the music playing and the flower cart setting up for the day. It felt really special having the frescoes on the ceiling. The apartment functioned well for the limited cooking that we did. The front rooms were a little noisy, but that was not unexpected from the previous comments. The inside bedroom was quiet. Karima was very helpful and she made us feel at home when we arrived tired and jet lagged from the USA.

We would gladly return and will definitely recommend the apartments to our friends.

It was very helpful to have advance tickets to the Uffizi and the Accademia as recommended. I also appreciated the help navigating Trenitalia. They should take lessons from you on customer service!

Thanks for helping to make it a special vacation,
Elaine D.

Dear In Italy,

Wow! Our second trip to Florence was wonderful.

We showed up at SEATAC with our bags and passports ready to go and the airline official said "oh we are sorry your last leg from Amsterdam to Florence quit flying on Sundays, you'll have to wait at the Amsterdam airport for 12 hours until it's Monday to catch your flight." Well of course that was not a good plan. So we flew from Amsterdam to Rome, which meant we had to switch our pick-up point for the car you reserved for us from Florence to Rome. A 10-minute phone call and it was easily changed by your representatives in LA. The car was clean and ready in Rome- brand new only 26 km on it. Turn in was smooth at Florence a week later.

Our apartment at Ciompi was AWESOME. The check in was quick, smooth and wonderful. The apartment was large, with a real kitchen so we could cook, which we did.
It had a wonderful view of Ciompi square, lots going on, gypsies playing music, people coming and going.

Okay it is noisy (it's a city, after all) so if you want quiet, don't stay in the city; but if you want to feel like you live in Florence, this is the place. We shopped for groceries in the local grocery down the street, bought breakfast pastries across the street. One of the hidden gems is the central market, meat and cheese downstairs and vegetables upstairs.

Thank you In Italy, you made our trip a wonderful event.
Dave & Bridget N.

Dear In Italy,

We just wanted to thank you for the reservations at Palazzo Ciompi. We got back last week but haven't had a chance to write. The apartment (Michaelangelo) was beautiful and the view, which was never commented on, was amazing. The market in front of the building was great and the excellent windows kept the apartment perfectly quiet. Our only problem with the apartment was that, in spite of our assurances to the contrary, the WiFi still does not work.

All in all, we can't wait to get back and we will definitely book with you on our next trip to Italy - we're already planning for next winter. Thanks again.

Steven I.

Thank you, yes, we did very much enjoy our Italy trip. Regarding our apartment in Florence, we appreciated that they accomodated our relatively late arrival due to the flight time. The location was good - out of the busy section of town with lots of tourists, but close for easy walking, a neighborhood feel, supermarket and cappucino spot close by, helpful person in the office, comfortable, roomy apartment. It was noisy, though, with our door being right on the street. Earplugs helped, and I realized that it's going to be noisy in the city.

We also used your website for the Cellular Abroad recommendation and used their cell phone - worked out very well.

Margaret A.

Dear In Italy,

I would like to share my experience with our Florence Ciompi Apartment. We truly could not have stayed in a more wonderful place. The ladies that run the office were wonderful, kind, and informative. We arrived too early to check in but were able to leave our baggage in the office and do a little sightseeing. When we were able to check in, our room was shockingly beautiful and VERY large. The ceilings were painted with frescos, yes, I said frescos!!!! We loved our room so much that we decided to do some shopping at the Super Marche` just down the street and stay in for the evening with some local food and the first bottle of many great cheap wines.

The neighborhood could not have been more wonderful. You could open your windows and listen to all the locals speaking in their poetic tongue and be satisfied for the day. Or you could walk to any of the popular tourist sites in minutes. We particularly loved that we were not in a touristed area of the city. We were able to get a glimpse of Florence life right out of our windows. The area is also very popular with International students so there is nightlife if you want it. In fact, we had some sort of traveling bar in the loggia across the street for the first three nights of our stay. It was filled with all ages, races, and creative types taking to the microphone with their talents- including a belly dancer. Ear plugs did come in handy those nights, but it really was no bother at all. It just inhanced our experience.

The ladies in the office recommend the restaurant just downstairs and so do we. We had a lovely, gastronomical experience there. The ambiance could have been romantic if we weren't four women traveling together. But some of our best meals were ones we ate at our own dining table after shopping the local market. Not only did this save money but it was a huge part of experiencing the Italian lifestyle and their food.

I truly could not recommend this Apartment more highly. We stayed in the Giotto apartment and it could have accommodated 6 people very comfortably. The room was clean and the kitchen had everything we needed. In fact, of all the places we stayed in the 3 weeks of traveling Italy and France, this was our favorite. We will stay there again in a heartbeat. Just give me two minutes to get ready.

Christina C.

Hello:

Thanks for all the assistance you provided. I'd have to say my very favorite "thing" was all the warm, friendly earthy Italian people. We totally enjoyed every encounter we had from espresso stops to taxi drivers. One of my hidden treasures was the amphitheatre Caesar used to deliver his dialog at while in Florence. It's not on any guidebook, and almost across from the Santa Croce Piazza, but, because the amphitheatre walls were "converted" into the outer walls of living quarters, the entire circumference is intact and you can walk the distance easily, finding the old arched entryways that are now bricked in. If you look at any map of Florence, find Santa Croce, you'll see a "circle" set within all the vertical streets.

Our rental accommodations were spacious, and while the gas stove was a mystery unto itself, we learned to cook poached eggs in the microwave, and enjoy the numerous outdoor marketplaces of fresh foods.

I would STRONGLY encourage all travelers to take along their favorite "anti-bug" spray. The misquotes were numerous and if you visit parts of the countryside, there are something called chiggers that love to hitchhike back to your room with you. The Pharmacia's were very helpful with providing anti-itch ointment, but I'd recommend taking a citronella candle along to provide some protection against those winged critters.

So much to do, so little time to do it all. We'll be back!

Ciao
Barb

Hello,

We will remember our wonderful weeks in Italy for some time and want you to know we found the hotels booked through Initaly to be grand. In Florence the Florence Ciompi Apartments were perfect for our large group of family and friends. The apartment we had (Michelangelo) was spacious, clean (recently renovated) and had a great view of Santa Croce and Piazzale Michelangelo across the river. Large windows afforded a wonderful view of this part of the city. What a great place to be as the Italians won the World Cup! BWe are already planning our next trip and will visit your site again when we are ready to go!

Kathy A.

Dear In Italy Online,

The Florence Ciompi apartments were our favorite, and we traveled for three weeks and stayed in many different hotels and apartments. It was clean and Carima was very helpful and attentive to our requests. The view from Donatello apartment was lovely, the apartment was spacious and clean and well-equipped, and the proximity to the sights was also ideal.

Thank you for a lovely stay. We will recommend this accommodation and your services to our friends, and use you again in the future.

Best,
Michele C.

Hi,

We have returned from our trip to Europe which included nine days at the Ciompi Apartments. What was supposed to be the highlight of our trip turned out to be a disappointment.

I understood when I made the reservations that the Cosimo D'Medici apartment was on a mezzanine which was fine with us. However, in your description, it said that it faced a courtyard which actually was an air shaft. Nowhere in the description did it say that the apartment had only one window which faced this airshaft. The bedroom had NO windows. Day or night, the apartment was pitch black. The atmosphere was oppressing and depressing to say the least. We avoided returning to the apartment during the day because it was so claustrophobic which defeated the purpose of having an apartment. I have attached photos from the only window in the apartment which was in the kitchen.

Another negative, was that your instructions said that we were to pay 150.00 E upon arrival and that the balance would be charged to our card upon checkout. The receptionist demanded full payment upon arrival.

We do have some positive remarks. The kitchen was very well equipped - granite countertop, good appliances, full size refrigerator. The building was beautiful and we loved the neighborhood. We were in walking distance to most of Florence - which we did since we never returned to the apartment! There was a wonderful food market up the street and we enjoyed several meals at a small restaurant - il Giova.

I have used your services in the past and you have always been reliable. I think the descriptions of this apartment needs to be redone so that it is more truthful. Otherwise, don't recommend it.

Mary Jean S.

Dear In Italy,

Florence Ciompi was a great place. We had problems with hot water, but otherwise it was great. We ate at ZAZA's in florence and it was wonderful.

Melinda H.

Dear In Italy,

We had a great trip! Only thing we did not like was the fact the apartment we stayed at did not provide fresh towels. We were there for 10 days and only had one set of towels when we arrived. However, we would stay at the Piazza de Ciompi again.

Robert A. C.

We all thought the apartment was lovely, spacious, quiet and convenient. We wondered selfishly about saying it was a terrible place to stay so that it will be available for when we want to come back! We really enjoyed all the sculptures at the Bargello and the Marino Marini Museum was fabulous, we love his sculpture anyway but it was beautifully presented too. We ate delicious food everywhere - in the handy kitchen in the apartment - and in all the trattoria we visited, some recommended on your site, Baldovino near the Santa Croce was great and also Le Repubbliche Marinare (fantastic seafood) in Pisa.

We could say so much more but I guess people have to see for themselves.

Thanks for all your help, we did appreciate the ease of it all (once we had sorted the problems of e-mailing the deposit) and liked the fact that there were no hidden extras.

Best wishes,
Diane G.

Dear In Italy,

Thanks for your help - the apt in Florence (Florence Ciompi Apts) was wonderful - the location was perfect for kids with the small park nearby and a relatively low tourist zone. At that point in our trip, it was great to have the full kitchen and be able to cook some eggs for breakfast - that was the most difficult adjustment for our boys! The accommodations were spacious, clean and beautiful!! As always, In Italy shines with its recommendations!! we really appreciated the list of nearby restaurants -Baldovino was delicious! ------on another note - we stayed at Villa Belvedere Campoli in Tuscany following Florence. We had used In Italy in the past to book, but as you no longer represent them, we booked directly with the property ---- now we know why you do not represent them...... Their gem of a host, Francesco, is not there as frequently as before with his expert inside guidance and his replacements are not nearly as personable nor knowledgeable in our opinion.... this trip we were in an apt. in an adjacent building to the main house, this was spacious and as clean as allowable, but the furnishings were in deplorable condition with filthy upholstery, quite unusable. .... we love the location and feel of this property, but would be reluctant to return based on this trip..... GOOD CALL to drop them ----- we'll contact you again for our next trip to Italy - your service and properties are the BEST!

Lisa and jeff s.

Dear In Italy,

We enjoyed our trip to Rome and Florence very much overall. We were extremely pleased with the apartments we booked through InItaly.

We took the Eurostar train to Florence, which was very reasonable in price, short (1.5 hours), and quite easy and comfy. We stayed in the Lorenzo apartment of the Florence Ciompi Apartments. This apartment was relatively recently refurbished and very nice- it even had a dishwasher! (this is almost unheard of in Italy- our villa in Sicily doesn't have a dishwasher) The apartment is split level with 2 BR's, the upper BR has spectacular views in every direction. We will stay in this apartment again when we go back to Florence. We had booked a walking tour through InItaly, Florence the First Time. Our tour was supposed to be at 1600 with Valentina. She showed up at 1400 while we were at lunch. We called the contact number on our voucher and Valentina did eventually show up about 1615. I am unsure of what the confusion about times was because the voucher we had clearly indicated 1600. Valentina gave us no real explanation either. Anyway, we proceeded with the tour. I felt rushed the entire time by Valentina, who seemed to be in a hurry. While she was clearly extremely knowledgeable about the various sights I felt a bit short changed by the whole tour. My expectations were definitely higher considering the cost (163 euro). She also had very little to add as far as local restaurants and shops. When we would ask her about either, she looked around wherever we happened to be and pointed something out. I would not book another walking tour for that kind of money considering the mediocre product.

That aside, we very much enjoyed Florence, even more so than Rome. We went to the usual sights/museums (Uffizi, Academia), and spent one day just walking all the way to the Piazza Michelangelo on the other side of the river. A long walk with lots of uphill but definitely worth it. We had the best meals of our trip in Florence- Il Latini, which is down a little alley, was an awesome experience and an outstanding value. We stopped in for lunch. It was mostly locals, always a good sign. The menu was recited to us by the very friendly waiter who spoke limited English (didn't matter since my wife speaks good Italian). We had antipasti (prosciutto crudo, salumi), Tuscan bread soup, grilled rabbit for my wife, grilled filletto for me (both man-sized hunks of meat cooked perfectly), sides of frites and green beans, coffee, a digestif (limoncello), grappa for me, and some assorted little cookies plus a bottle of Felsina Fontalloro off the excellent wine list. All for 100 euro TOTAL. Mind you, this was Tuscan food and cooking for the common man, meaning excellent ingredients, simply prepared, and served in large portions. Not much finesse or refinement which made it all the better. Another lunch was at Cantinetta Antinori. The food and service were excellent, although this place is a bit pricy. It is stuffier than Il Latini and the waiter and maitre d' seemed somewhat concerned since we showed up for lunch with our 2 year old, but they warmed up when they realized she wasn't going to terrorize the place. We had a nice meal, but the best thing about this place is the wine selection. They only have Antinori or Antinori-owned wines, but the portfolio is quite extensive and they pour almost all the wines by the glass at very reasonable prices. Furthermore, they take the wine service very seriously and every glass we ordered was poured from a fresh bottle opened tableside. Both these restaurants are highly recommended.

Unfortunately, we also had the absolute worst meal of our trip in Florence. We were very tired one night and our toddler was reaching her limit, so we decided to get pizzas and take them back to the apartment. Fortunately (or so we thought), I had found Il Pizzaiuolo in my internet research, which was touted as the best pizzeria in central Florence. So we walked the one block from our apartment and ordered our pizzas to take back to the apartment (the place was crazy busy and packed). These were the absolute worst pizzas we have had in Italy- undercooked, puddles of grease and sauce on top, doughy soft limp crust. Avoid this place no matter what you read.

We booked the overnight train for our trip back home (from Florence back to Catania). A couple of words to the wise for those of you planning to travel by train: first, make sure you note which train station you are departing from. We arrived from Roma into Santa Maria Novella but we departed from stazione Campo di Marte. Second, if you book a sleeping compartment make sure you know what you are getting. We had a private 2 person compartment, which would have been fine except we had our toddler with us and 2 large suitcases. There is virtually no space for luggage, so be prepared (we'll travel a lot lighter next time).

All in all, we had a wonderful trip and InItaly was very helpful in planning for it. This trip was the first time we had booked apartments to stay in and it worked out beautifully. I will definitely continue to use InItaly for trip planning but I doubt I will ever book a private guide through your site again- too expensive to gamble on getting a mediocre experience. We could have done almost as well with our 2 guide books for 140 euro less.

Thanks,
Carl and Renee B.

Dear In Italy,

Just a quick reply. We had a fabulous trip in Italy and loved Florence. The Ciompi apartments were very nice and just as pictured on your web site. (I often found that Italian lodgings were not even close to the web site pictures in many other places). My one complaint however, was the smell. When you walked into the main floor lobby/landing you were immediately aware of a sewage/ sulfur smell. Also, our Vespucci apartment had the same smell. It really was bothersome. When we had been out all day and came back, we would have to open up all the windows to air out the apartment. The final day I called the manager and she said she was aware of it and looking into it. She said our particular apartment had the worst problem with the smell. Anyway, like I say, the apartment itself was great--but hard to recommend with the smell. Thought you would want to know.

Sincerely,
Marcia Y.

Dear Jessica,

I was just preparing a few notes to let you know how fabulous our trip actually was. I don't think there was anything we found that would be negative as we always found people and the actual friendliness of the Italians that made every moment enjoyable. The weather was extremely cooperative and we had the most beautiful days...

Florence was exceptional and our Giotti apartment in the Ciompi apartments was an exceptional pick and a perfect location to walk and see that beautiful city. While there, we were able to experience shopping at the super market and using a laundromat. I could probably write a book on that as everything is in Italian and trying to maneuver on your own was a hoot.

Our guide in Florence was Elisabetta who again is one of the most knowledgeable people you could want to have in Florence. She was very wonderful and friendly and helped us learn a lot about the many sites there in Florence. Her years in the study of Art History and researching it was a big plus in the explanation of our tour through Florence. The day our tour started out was warm but got a bit cold as we went about and I think we hurried her a bit. She did take us for a breather at a wonderful coffee bar where we experienced the thick hot chocolate that is so tasty. After warming up, Elisabetta took us by a friend’s shop where he makes leather boxes and explained the art which he has carried over from generations. We all enjoyed that, as well as the numerous art treasures found around Florence.

Elisabetta suggested we take the Eurostar to Venice and I am so glad as this was a magnificent trip. We met the most wonderful people and got to see another part of the Italian countryside as well.

In Florence, one of our party has two brothers who hosted us for dinner and also one night we ate at a beautiful restaurant up near Michaelangelo Square. Seeing all the beautiful sites from on that hill in the late evening was a special treat as well. Gaith Jeyusi works in a special shop next door to Santa Croce where there was some of the most unusual Mosaic and Murano glass pieces. Some of these mosaic pieces take years to make and use various precious stones from all over to create the most beautiful art work. It is expensive but if you know someone who is into mosaic, I would suggest seeing the works in his shop. Also, his brother Zaid has a leather shop next door with the most beautiful leather coats and purses that one could ever want to own. Needless to say, my wife Gwen did buy coats for her and all our children, as the prices were excellent and the products beautiful.

A special jewel in addition to the art, getting to know the people and seeing the beautiful countryside, was learning a bit about the food and some of the ingredients such as rucola. This is a special green that has a spicy flavor which makes a great addition to salad or adds to a great sandwich. Also there was another green used in salad, Valeriana (which is supposed to comfort you). Tomatoes like the variety DA Bruschetta were especially good and I had to buy some seeds of all these to transport home.

I think you can tell that our experiences were wonderful everywhere we went and our accommodations selected on the InItaly site were exceptional. I want to personally thank you for your assistance and help in planning this whole trip. The In Italy site is the best and I would recommend it to anyone. All of the tours, pick-ups at the airport were there on time and there wasn't any glitch on the whole trip. This will be a trip that the four of us will have memories for the rest of our lives. Jessica I want to thank you and the others helping on the In Italy site for making it all possible.

Cheers,
Mitch F.

Hi Jessica,

Per your request concerning our Firenze (Florence) experience, we've been to Europe 14 times and this trip ranks among the best--it was great and our apartment, Ciompi/Giotto was wonderful.

The large living room with frescoed ceiling was a delight. Looking out the window, just below, was Vasari’s 16-century Loggia with an adjoining market place. Florence, of course, is a Renaissance fan's delight.

Very minor apartment problems. Several light bulbs were out and an 18” panel in the surround shower stall that wouldn’t stay in place; however, the manager and other personnel were very friendly and quick to respond to complaints. They sent help immediately but only half the light bulbs were replaced, the others were unreachable, because of the wonderful 16’-18’ ceilings.

The shower wasn’t immediately repairable but I jerry-rigged it and it was fine.

It was just under a half-mile to the Duomo so walked every day to wherever we were going. In fact we walked five to 10 miles a day which kept us in shape for all the pizza and gelato we consumed. We were lucky to immediately find La Ghiotta, a small family-owned restaurant, just a half-block down the street. Food was excellent, big quantities, not served as a meal like we do, but when ready. So any cooked dish, like pizza, was served piping hot. We loved it, ordering way too much the first time. Even then, the bill was only 32 euros ($38USD), for four adults. Even though they didn’t speak English and we little Italian, there was no communication problem. We usually arrived between 7:00 pm and 7.30 pm and the place was empty. By 8:00 pm it was packed, standing room only. Obviously locally popular (no tourists). We ate there 7 of the next 8 nights. We had a kitchen in the apartment but I decided to give the girls a real vacation, no cooking except breakfast.

We highly recommend Florence and the Ciompi Apartments.

Sylvan P.

We have returned from our trip to Europe which included nine days at the Ciompi Apartments. What was supposed to be the highlight of our trip turned out to be a disappointment.

I have used your services in the past and you have always been reliable. I think the descriptions of this apartment needs to be redone so that it is more truthful. Otherwise, don't recommend it.

Mary Jean S.

Dear In Italy,

Florence Ciompi was a great place. We had problems with hot water, but otherwise it was great. We ate at ZAZA's in florence and it was wonderful.

Melinda H.

Dear In Italy,

Robert A. C.

Dear Jessica,

Florence Ciompi was everything they promised and more. We couldn't have imagined a more adequate kitchen setup, or a better bedroom/bath provided. The pictures showed exactly what we found ... except they didn't totally convey the sense of old world charm we enjoyed in the Galileo Galilei apartment. It was spacious, well furnished, and well cared for.

We had asked about a washer & dryer and were told that they had only a washer. In fact they have a dryer that is free ... one washer token is 5 euros but then that includes washing powder or liquid that worked very well, in addition to the dryer. So we didn't mind.

Right outside the front door (literally, the next door establishment) is a phenomenon that we used for a couple of items we forgot ... it was a .75 euro store, or what we in the states call a "dollar store" that had a workable espresso pot for 4.90 euros! We could make our espresso at home each night ... how great! They have shampoo, gel for doing hand-wash items, and so forth. Plus we found a lot of "made in Italy" items at bargain prices to take to folks at home.

In the Piazza Ciompi square, we loved the permanent flea market and walked through there coming or going out as they reopened about 4 p.m. each afternoon. Great stuff and junk alike ... but the people were always friendly and there was a bargain or two to be had!

Also as promised ... if you walk out the front door and across the street, 2 of the 4 bus lines that cover the city sights are located. I was glad that our friends staying with us had done that research, because I did not know enough about that system to use it well ... they had all the information online. Next time, we will do that research in advance. Since the tickets can be purchased at any tobacco shop (take a left out the front door ...) it is convenient and goes everywhere you might want to be, should you not wish to walk.

The apartments are so close to so many wonderful eating places that we would not have known about without some of our other guidebooks. Cibreo (the restaurant and the cafe) are one block away, walking to the left out the front door. Cibreo is expensive for dinner but affordable and good for dinner. Right across the street from those two places is the best pizza in Florence ... and I can't remember the name but it's something like IL Pizzouli.

A treat for us was the food market at Sant’Ambroglio ... in the next block beyond Cibrea and the restaurant in the market which is open from around 12- 2:30. Some of the best and cheapest food in the Trattoria inside the market, with the friendliest folks who encouraged our Italian, laughed with us and helped us enjoy one of the best meals of the trip for lunch one day!

And of all the churches we visited ... Santa Croce remains our favorite. We spent 3 hours there and could have spent more ... the English audio guide was MORE than worth it. That can't be said of all the places, but here, we learned so much, and could have spent another several hours if we'd had the time.

I shopped for silk-lined leather gloves all over the city ... and the best value I found was in an unlikely place perhaps. Within sight of the foot of the Ponte Vecchio on the Oltarno side is "The Glove Factory" ... not only were they within 1 euro of the cheapest price I found anywhere ( at 34 euros), they had the largest selection of colors, sizes and styles, AND they were willing to take several kinds of currency (at a good exchange rate) and make change in euros. What a deal!

I could go on ... because I think that Florence has become a favorite city during this first visit ... but the point remains that there is much to be discovered, and enjoyed within steps of the Florence Ciompi apartments! We will definitely plan future stays in Firenze around our "home away from home" - Florence Ciompi.

Regards, Anne C.

Dear Jessica:

My husband and I had a truly enjoyable and memorable trip to Italy. We approached each new accommodation not knowing quite what to expect, but each time we were pleasantly surprised. Every one of our stays exceeded our expectations. The Florence Ciompi Apartments were great because of the setting, which gave a great feel of a neighborhood, and the spaciousness of the apartment itself. I loved coming back to the apartment in the evening and opening the huge windows which overlooked the street and listening to the hum of conversations below. When the windows were closed, it was a very quiet place for sleeping. There was a wonderful coffee shop/patisserie within a block, as well as a well stocked grocery store, and every place we went in Florence was within easy walking distance.

It was great to use your website links for train and museum reservations. That helped to structure our trip and avoid long lines at popular museums. When it came to the taking the train to return to Milan from Florence, we had expected to be able to go to the club car to eat lunch. We didn't know that reservations were required ahead of time, so we had to settle for some mediocre food from the bar car. Meanwhile, we witnessed six German men who came on the train and began opening up packages, serving themselves bread, sausage, cheese, and wine. They even had their own wine glasses! And they were laughing a lot! A lesson learned.

I feel very fortunate to have come across your website in the early planning stages of our trip. Your site provides an immense amount of useful information, and as I said before, we were extremely pleased with our accommodations. Thank you for providing such a quality service. We had a wonderful time!

Sincerely,
Diane H.

Hi Jessica,

We found the Machiavelli apartment immaculately presented and very comfortable during our stay. In particular we found the kitchen to be excellently furnished and we enjoyed making use of it.

The solitary complaint - the dishwasher was not working (ie. was tripping the circuit breaker to the rest of the apartment when turned on).

All in all we enjoyed our stay and found it to be a welcome break during our lengthy visit to have a comfortable, temporary 'home' instead of just another hotel room.

Best regards,
Jason D.

Dear In Italy,

Thank you for facilitating a wonderful and memorable trip to Italy. Our visit to Italy got off to a great start with our stay in Rome at the Gladiatori Hotel. We proceeded to Florence after our stay in Rome and stayed at the Florence Ciompi Apartments. We stayed in Boccaccio and Michelangelo. The apartments are very large and beautiful.

We really enjoyed the two day trips that we took to Chianti one day and to San Gimignano & Siena the next. Our guide, Euan, made these two days the highlight of our Florence/Tuscany week. We marveled at the scenery, enjoyed all the local people we met and had some most delicious food and wine along the way. Euan was a delight to spend a day with, so knowledgeable about the area with such an easy going and accommodating personality, he set the tone for a blissful day in the country. We had a party of eight and the money we spent on these day trips was a bargain for two days of pure care free relaxation and fun. Thanks initaly, for helping us thoroughly enjoy your beautiful country.

Thomas B.

Dear In Italy,

We rented this apartment from Sept. 10 to 16th and I wanted to give you some feedback.

Although the apartment was spacious and spotless, I would not recommend it to anyone. First it is not really comfortable. There are so many hard surfaces inside that it echoes and feels very sterile. You should put some cheap rugs on the floors. Also there were four adults sharing the apartment, but only one couch - not enough seating though there is plenty of room for more.

During our week long stay there was no change of sheets or towels. If that's the standard practice, you should tell people that. There was also absolutely nothing supplied. No soap, toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, etc. You should supply toilet paper at least.

Finally, there should be someone on site as a manager more than three hours a day. We could not figure out how to use the phones or how to use the washing machine and there was no one to ask since the "manager" was usually not there during her scheduled hours. Fortunately we had a cell phone. Put a folder in the apartment with some directions on using the phone, the washing machine, where the local store is, etc.

All of this was fairly minor, but the issue of no one ever on site was not. When we checked in we told the manger that we were leaving Friday am and wanted to pay her Thursday afternoon. She was not there on Thursday or Friday. We ended up running around the building to find someone, calling the manager, the rental agency etc. The maid said we would have to wait for the manager to come though there was no indication of when that might be. I told her we were leaving whether the manager was there or not. We finally ended up paying her and she gave us a reciept, but it was kind of uncomfortable for everyone.

Our first morning there, a woman and her family were trying to find the manager because they had come in the night before and, since the manager wasn't there, they were put in an "emergency" apartment on the assurance that the manager would come the next morning and let them into the apartment they had paid for. The manager didn't come.

As we were leaving a group of about 10 people were waiting to check in, but could not because there was no one there to check them in (this was the same time we were running around to try and figure out how to pay our bill.) Overall, this did not leave a good impression.

Too bad because this property could be absolutely fantastic with just a few changes (a rug at least in the living room, two more chairs in the living room, toilet paper, one change of towels per week - and a manager who is either on site or reachable by phone most of the time!).

Hi Jessica-

We were very happy with all of the arrangements we made through InItaly.com. Thanks for all of your help.

The airport shuttle worked very well. Someone who spoke English met us as planned. I thought the fee was all-inclusive, so I didn't tip the driver. Same with the tours. The were all very expensive and done by professionals, so a small tip would have been insulting, so I didn't tip, thinking that 500 euros was enough....

Florence Ciompi Apartments were very nice - LOTS of room. Full kitchen which we didn't use. It is really in the area were many Italians live, rather than the tourist section, but not a far walk to Duomo, the river, etc. This should also be on that page for traveling with 5 (or 6). Only downside was tiny shower with broken door and no shower in 2nd bedroom. Still it was far better than a cramped hotel room.

Tours were excellent, expensive, but worth it.

Vatican tour - couldn't have gotten the kids through it without a guide, saved a lot of time waiting in line. Our guide was a Polish professor who was 1/2 Italian and spoke 7 languages. We went fast, but he explained all of the most important things to us. Really helped the kids understand importance of Sistine Chapel, Pieta, School of Athens....

Michael gave us an excellent tour of Rome - hitting some unusual spots that we would never have found on our own. Great for the kids because we would ride, then walk, then ride, then walk... He also is a professor (of medieval history, I think) and explained things very well to us and our children, while our Italian driver kept his eyes on the road - worked great. I have to say I was very disappointed in the Trevi Fountain and Spanish steps which we did on our own - just a bunch of tourists and vendors standing around, packed -- Michael's tour really gave us a sense of what Rome is about.

Bus 51 was not so great - it was a way to get around, but the audio was worthless.

We did Coliseum on our own, fell in there with a tour that saved us wait of an our or so for tickets, and the guide really helped us understand what we were seeing; 90 euro for my family of 5 (included tickets) - guide was italian, so his accent made it hard to follow at times if there was background noise.

We did ancient Rome on our own - it was neat, but I wish I had arranged a walking tour of that area as well.

The best restaurant for the money is Zio Ciro Mangianapoli Via Della Propaganda, 22 Tel: 06-6786093. We really needed our Italian there, but the food was great and the prices very reasonable.

We liked Ristorante S. Eustachio a lot - hard to find the Piazza dei Caprettari, though.

The highlight of the whole trip for me was Sylvia's walking tour of Florence. She has a PhD (or close) in Art History, and really made Florence come alive. I took a course on the Renaissance and Reformation in college, but this is the first time in my life that I finally have understood the transition from the Roman Empire to the dark ages to the Renaissance, and now I want to know even more. What happened it Florence is very fundamental to our modern civilization, so I highly recommend this tour. Thanks Sylvia!

The tour of Uffizi gallery was also very good. I taxed my children but it helped to have the paintings explained by a PhD in art history. My 14-year-old paid attention the whole time.

We took the EuroStar train from Rome to Florence, bought tickets on line - worked great. Beautiful ride. I recommend first class.

In Tuscany, I recommend a little town of Pienza. Great to walk around for 1/2 day. Beautiful view. Restaurants very quaint and prices better than Rome and Florence. Check out Zazzeri - a wine and cheese shop run by Livio Zazzeri - really nice guy who speaks a little English and seems to enjoy tourists - we shipped some cheese and wine home and it worked well, although in the middle of the summer the cheese melted some.....

I highly recommend initaly.com for anyone travelling to Italy for the 1st time.

Brian M.

Dear In Italy,

We had a wonderful time, and I am recommending your web site to everyone! Both locations were excellent. I wish we had explored the Monti neighborhood more, only on our way to the train did we see the other side of the square. The Florence apartment was almost above a bakery that equalled those of Paris, and a deli across the street. The only annoying thing about the apartment was that there were no full length mirrors. Great big new bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full kitchen with dishwasher, but no mirror, an easy fix. I can not wait to go again and stay longer. If you have a mailing list and any specials ever, please keep me posted.

Debbie R.

Dear In Italy,

We had a great time. The apartment was exactly as expected, very large and comfortable. All amenities worked but there are no closets, only cabinets but otherwise it was great. One other small problem, the laundry facilities were not working and I got the impression they rarely do. So if others pack believing they can do laundry while there, they may want to rethink that idea. The apartment we rented had a very large terrace off the master bedroom which was very pleasant in the evenings. I would highly recommend these to anyone, we'll probably go back.

Deb F.

Dear Jessica,

Thanks - we loved this apartment! Terrific location - near so much, an easy walk to everything, but far enough away from the crowds. The apartment was very clean and you had wonderful people at the reception - I forgot her name - Carmela? She was terrific - called us cabs, etc. The rooms were spacious and the kitchen well stocked - 2 bathrooms for 2 bedrooms was a real plus. Maybe a little more street noise than we expected, but we WERE on the 1st floor, and for a major city it was not too bad. We would surely recommend this to our friends.

Thanks for your help!

All best,
Andrew and Katie

PS Don't let people miss the Bargello! I know this is a major museum, but too many American tourists pass it up in favor of Uffizi and Accademia. It was so terrific - small, no crowds, and you can get so close to these masterpieces of sculpture - plus an interesting building. We also loved the restaurant Le Mossacce - looks like a hole in the wall, and so packed, but worth the wait!

Dear In Italy,

We thoroughly enjoyed the apartment. It was HUGE by any standards, and incredibly reasonably priced. The area a few blocks walking toward the Duomo has some incredible Trattoria's. Not touristy at all. Phenomanal food.

The only thing that I would definitely have changed is the LOCK system. We nicknamed the apartments Fort Knox. It's great to have wonderful security, etc. however, these are the hardest locks to get into I have ever encountered on the actual apartment doors. We were told they were difficult, however, that was an understatement. It would be nice if the reception area would show you exactly how to turn it. We were not alone in this. We had two people come assist us who were staying there also, and said it took them 20 minutes to figure theirs out. She was able to help me after I had spent 20 unsuccessful minutes.

Thank you for you inquiry.
Kathy S.

Dear Jeremy,

The Michelangelo apartment was almost everything we could have wished for. Being on the top floor gave us a view across Florence I will never forget. The location of the Ciompi Apartment was very convenient and the presentation and furnishing was first class.

Just one thing to mention is the fact that the apartment does not really offer 3 separate bedrooms as described on the website. I think this should be made clear so that one knows what one is booking.

One of the bedrooms is on a mezzanine floor accessed through an existing bedroom. We were told, when we arrived, that this upper room is too hot for comfort and indeed had no air conditioning; this meant that two of our party had to sleep in the living room with little privacy.

The two members of our party were OK with the changed sleeping arrangements but as the organiser I was disappointed for them and it could have put a blot on the holiday.

This apart we had a memorable holiday - we took up some of the restaurant recommendations and were not disappointed.

To close I would certainly book with you again and thank you for the smoothness of all the arrangements.

Yours sincerely,
John N.

Dear In Italy,

We enjoyed the apartment. It was very spacious and convenient to all of Florence. I would recommend your help to anyone.

Denise G.

Dear In Italy,

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Ciompi Apts even more charming, comfortable and well situated than the internet description and photos suggested. I would rebook in an instant. the map makes the Apt look far from the center of the major sites but it is a ten minute delightful walk from the doumo and another tem minutes of walking to the Ponte Vecchio. The AC worked well for the hot June days and the kitchenette was well stocked. In short a great place. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Additional benefit was 2 vegetarian restaurants within 2 blocks.

Larry G.

Dear Jessica,

We had a wonderful stay at Florence Ciompi Apartments. The Michaelangelo apartment was everything that we expected, very clean and comfortable. The only problems we experienced were with the dishwasher in the apartment - we never were able to get it to run through a complete cycle, and apparently the last tenant had experienced the same problem. The washer and dryer on the 4th floor was a plus - we used it several times. We were disappointed with the flea market across the street - really junky. We loved the nearby restaurants though, they were excellent. The apartments were in a great location, with a small supermarket right down the street.

We were there when the Calcio Storico games were beginning in Piazza Santa Croce, and were lucky enough to watch an amazing fireworks show the night after the first game - our 3rd floor windows were an absolutely perfect place to watch the fireworks, and were some of the best we've ever seen (my daughters really enjoyed that)

Carima was helpful and friendly - we really enjoyed our stay and will look forward to returning soon. Our experience with booking through In Italy was great - thanks for your help.

Martha A.

In Italy,

When I found the Florence Ciompi Apartments on your site, it looked too good to be true. The photos suggested really nice apartments and the rates were great. But it was everything I hoped it would be. We stayed in Lorenzo Il Magnifico which is located on the top floor. It appeared to be a little more rustic than some of the other apartments but that was what I wanted. Our views out the windows on the top floor were fabulous. The kitchen was well equipped and even had a dishwasher. The only thing missing was a microwave oven. I would absolutely stay here again. The building is immaculate and so are the apartments, which for the most part are really large. We spoke to others staying there and they also mentioned how clean their apartments were. We peeked into a few and they all looked great.

Having booked this through In Italy made it a breeze. We turned in our paperwork and we were all set. We found the on-site manager very helpful. If you have a car, the parking for the building is secure and convenient. It was worth the 15 Euros per day.

Florence Ciompi was a great location too. The daily Farmers Market is only blocks away and has the best produce, meats and cheese available. There are great restaurants in the neighborhood and it is walking distance to many of the major attractions in the city.

Hidden find: Our daughter is a vegetarian so we did some checking online before our trip. We found a GREAT place with good vegetarian selections as well as excellent Tuscan meat specialties in the area of the San Lorenzo market. It is called La Congrega. We had such a great meal there that we went back a second time and it was just as good. The address is: Via Panicale 43R. I recommend reservations as it is small. the number is 0552645027. the website is http://www.osterialacongrega.it. We also went to Il Latini again and as always it was a great experience. The place is classic. The food was great and the bill was reasonable. Thanks In Italy, I send people to your site all the time.

Joel B.

Jessica,

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the "Machiavelli" apartment and can recommend it to others with confidence. The woman in charge of the property was most cooperative in letting us check in early after our long, trans-Atlantic flight, and she continued to be gracious and helpful throughout our stay.

The apartment itself was spacious, well-appointed, nicely furnished, and quite comfortable. The apartment was effectively cooled by two large air conditioning units: one in the living room and one in the bedroom. The air conditioning was needed and appreciated because the week we were in Florence, the temperatures hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit!

The renovation included modern plumbing in both the kitchen and bath. In fact, the kitchen was equipped with a dishwasher, which we hadn't expected. (Perhaps we should have expected it, but neither of us recalled it being in the apartment description.) Even though we had only one flight of steps to climb, the elevator was useful transporting our luggage up and down and when we were especially exhausted because of the heat.

We particularly liked the location. While the apartment still is in the historic district, its location northeast of Santa Croce simply isn't as congested or filled with tourists as many other parts of the city. We felt we were living in a real neighborhood, alongside real Italians living their lives. Proximity to every convenience made the experience much more pleasant. For example, the Standa supermarket is on Via Pietrapiana less than two blocks away. The Sant'Ambrogio farmer's market is similarly two blocks away in the opposite direction. In close proximity to the farmer's market, we patronized the Girasole dry cleaner, a bakery, and salumeria. Le Chat Internet cafe on Via Ghibellina and Vestri chocolateria/gelateria on Borgo degli Albizi were two more factors in our positive attitude about the location. (Vivoli and Neri rounded out the list of top-notch gelaterias that were only a little bit farther afield from our apartment.)

There was an excellent variety of restaurants within a 5-10 minute walk from the apartment. Particularly noteworthy were Dino's, Leo in Santa Croce, and Osteria De Benci. Even the walk to our favorite restaurants across the Arno -- Quattro Leoni and Mama Gina's -- were easy strolls from this location.

Except for taking a cab to and from the apartment with our luggage, we were able to and did walk everywhere, and loved it!

If we were to decide to stay in Florence again for a week, we would probably head straight to Florence Ciompi apartments.

Philip & Karen S.

Dear Kristin and Jessica:

Got back just about a week ago and wanted to send you feedback while it is fresh in my mind. First of all thank you for all your help our trip was fabulous!

We loved the Boccaccio, what a jewel! What a great location, we walked everywhere! The Boccaccio Apartment is very spacious, we had a balcony (no outdoor furniture yet, but we dragged our dining room chairs out!) The apartment was extremely clean and tidy. The beds were quite comfortable and the bathrooms very spacious. A++++++. Karima at the front desk was very helpful and friendly. If we were (or when we) to return to Florence we would go back there. The neighborhood is great, everything is convenient: grocery store, pastry/cafe, a wonderful restaurant, ATM, etc. Great, great, great!

I wish the apartment had had a binder with local information: where to eat, find a grocery store, drug store, etc. Also information about what to do with the trash and recycling, where in the apartment to find a hair dryer, iron, etc. Would save some time.

Thank you and once again we had quite a memorable trip.

Crissy T. P.

Dear Jessica,

Home again after a wonderful trip! All went like clockwork and we have you and your site to thank for that, so thanks to you all.

I know that you are an American company with most of your clients originating from the other side of the pond. Our friends were quite surprised when they heard I was using a.com and not a.co.uk but we couldn't be happier with the results as Scotland now has, for the first time, direct flights to Pisa, Milan and Rome. We hope that our satisfaction will increase your client base.

What can be said about Lorenzo II but totally MAGNIFICO! The Florence Ciompi Apartments were fabulous and our 'penthouse' bedroom was indeed the Florentine Room with a View. You mention 3 windows. Wrong! Leave the ensuite door open and window 4 is there. 360degrees of Florence all to ourselves.

Early one morning, with a day of rain looming, I caught the picture from the window up towards the Piazza Michelangelo that made me understand the incredible dawn lighting and dark clouds so often seen in many of the famous Italian paintings and not experienced in the UK.

The situation of the apartments is perfect as a right turn takes you to the local market and the trattorias full of atmosphere and NO tourists. In these we had some great times, always welcomed and looked after by the locals. A left turn and minutes take you to the Duomo and the shops!! Our daughter enjoyed spending a few months salary in the Via Tornabuoni, especially Gucci. Straight ahead and you're at Santa Croce and the Arno. If sore feet make the trip back somewhat daunting then the electric buses A and B, which do circular trips so it doesn't matter which way they are going, bring you right back outside the door and give some extra sightseeing on the way.

The only down side was Florence itself. Very, very busy and full of traffic. Well that was only to be expected but I would recommend staying in Lucca and day tripping to Florence. However that is a MAJOR problem as the experience of our stay in Lorenzo II Magnifico would be lost and that is something we would never give up. A wonderful memory to be cherished forever.

Thank you.
Fiona, Rod and M.

Hi Jessica,

Yes, we arrived home this past Sunday evening. Our trip to Italy was wonderful!! Thanks to you and Kristin for all your help.

The Florence Ciompi apartment was terrific - better than I expected, especially the view from the living room window. We looked out over Piazza Ciompi and Santa Croce and onto the hills and Piazzale Michaelangelo. Fantastic views!!! It was so new and everything was spotlessly clean. It was very spacious and we had more than enough room for the four of us. Our son loved the upstairs bedroom off the master bedroom. The kitchen was awesome and we cooked a full dinner and elaborate breakfast there. The bathrooms were fantastic, too, with plenty of hot water and lovely ceramic tile. The washer and dryer on the second floor came in very handy - how nice to have a dryer!! Karima, the office manager, was very nice. And the parking was wonderful - a real parking lot!! What a surprise.

We loved the four cities we stayed in, and would return in a heartbeat to any of them. It was a perfectly wonderful trip and we want to thank you and Kristen for all your help - the information on your website was invaluable!! We had many wonderful experiences - being in Rome the week after the death of the Pope being one of them - and our family will remember this trip fondly for many years.

Pat C.

Jessica,

I would be glad to provide you with some feedback about Florence Ciompi Apartments. The accommodations were definitely beyond expectations. We booked a "double" suite which usually barely promises enough room for one person, let alone two. However, the Brunelleschi suite was extremely spacious and immaculately clean. The fixtures were all top quality and the place was obviously maintained very well. The room was very quiet and still provided a skyline view over a small street. We traveled to three cities in Italy during this trip, and really had good accommodations in all cities. But Florence Ciompi is our favorite by far, as well as the most affordable. We will definitely be back, and intend to stay at Florence Ciompi again.

Don J.

Hi Jessica,

We had a great time, and once again appreciate the help we received from InItaly, our favorite Italy web site.

The apartment was very roomy and we had everything we needed there. We were about a 15-minute walk from the center of Florence, and rather liked being part of a real neighborhood. We had a grocery store just down the block which was very handy to keep us in wine and snacks. Also, local shops (jewelry, shoes, linens) with lower prices than the more touristy areas.

Just a couple of glitches. The office at Ciompi was only open a couple of hours each morning and each afternoon, so we did not have anyone there to answer questions much of the time. On Saturday morning, we found ourselves locked into the building; one of the guests had inadvertently closed the front door, and none of our keys worked in that door. We finally figured out how to get the door opened, but worried after that about the possibility of getting locked in. We wished we had had an emergency number to call.

The elevator also broke down on Saturday; we reported it right away, but it wasn't fixed until Monday. Not a big deal for us since we were on the first floor, but I suspect more of a problem for those higher up. Also, the weather was unseasonably warm, and they had not yet put out the outdoor furniture on Boccaccio. We asked for the furniture the day of our arrival, but it was not furnished during our week's stay.

We arranged for a "Florence the First Time" tour with Elisabetta, and it was a great tour. She's an art history major and really provided a good overview of Florence. It was our 4th visit to Florence (our favorite city), but others in our group were new to Florence and it provided a great introduction to the city.

Our favorite restaurant in Florence is Il Paiolo on Via Corso. We discovered it our first trip to Florence and we return every time. Katarina is magic in the kitchen - always very appealing specials, in a wonderfully cozy setting.

One of the highlights of our trip was the opening night of Tosca at Florence's Maggio Musicale Festival, the big annual music festival in Florence. We ordered tickets in advance and had no trouble getting tickets. It was a wonderful performance, and I would highly recommend it to your readers.

On each of our trips we discover hidden gems. This time it was Badia Fiorentina, a small church in Florence. We went there because of a particular work of art, and found a Sunday service in progress. With incense in the air, sunlight streaming thru the windows and monks chanting, it was a very moving experience.

We also took a day-trip to Siena via train, and enjoyed that very much as well. We've visited several hill towns before, but Siena is much larger, and really deserves more than a day-trip. We did go to the Duomo museum, and climbed up to see the scenic view - not to be missed.

We started and ended our vacation in Milan, our first time in that city. Several highlights there: a tour of LaScala Opera House - it must be fabulous to see a performance there. Taking the lift to the top of the Duomo and wandering around among the spires and gargoyles. Browsing the LaBrera district - great shopping and restaurants. daVinci's Last Supper - very moving, but be sure to get tickets in advance. Favorite restaurant:
Nabucco's in LaBrera

Thanks again for all your help, Jessica, in making ours a great vacation.

Sue and Ken P.

Dear In Italy,

Thanks so much for the help during our trip! We had a wonderful time and beautiful weather. The Florence Ciompi Apartment was a nice change of pace; it was great to be able to spread out. I wish the second bedroom would have a bed bigger than a single but the pull out couch was fine. It was nice to be in a neighborhood while still being close to the tourist attractions. We went to one of the restaurants you suggested: Il Giova. The food was amazing, the atmosphere quiet and romantic and the proprietor a doll! They had their own wine which was very nice, too. The market across the street had some great finds and the pastry shop 2 or 3 doors down had tasty treats.

Sarah W.

Dear In Italy,

We had a wonderful time at the Florence Ciompi Apts - It looked exactly like the website showed - and then some!!! We couldn't get over the ease of booking this unit thru you - much more simple than any other hotel that we stayed in on our two week visit to Italy - we are so sorry we didn't use your help with our stays in Rome and Positano - but we will be using you again - planning on Positano area for two weeks next year and you on the top of my list for rentals!!!!! Our apartment was in the most amazing area in Florence - we only needed to walk out the door to walk to any restaurant or bar in the area - the area was very quaint and truly gave us the feel of being part of the normal day to day of living in Florence - Again - the apartment was wonderful - it was so clean - linens, towels ( all of great quality) This is definitely the way to go for anyone staying longer than three days - we had soooo much room !!! I have recommended you to everyone I talk to - you are the best of the best!!!!! Thanks again for making our trip spectacular!!!!!

Linda M.

Dear In Italy,

Thank you for your kind words and excellent support. Your excellent service gave us the confidence to take an apartment for several days instead of a hotel. It was a great decision. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of living like a Florentine in our Ciompi apartment.

First there was the excellent service of the building staff who stayed through lunch to check us in and see that we were comfortable. Then we found the apartment to be of first quality all the way with an excellent kitchen and bathrooms and very clean bedrooms. It was a joy. Our friends (we had convinced them that this was going to be great) were very impressed.

We then made ourselves at home with a trip to the nearby supermarket that had everything we could want for a snack or a whole meal.

The building is lovely, secure, and well maintained. It was very enjoyable to stay in and the location was perfect for our needs. It was also quite convenient to other spots in the city which were easy to walk to.

Thank you very much for making Italy and Florence readily accessible to people who want a different experience from the standard hotel. It is also helpful to Jewish people who want to be in walking distance of the Synagogue with kitchen possibilities.

Please contact me if you would like more specific recommendations.

Thank You.
Russ M.

Dear In Italy,

Florence Ciompi Apartments were wonderful! We stayed in the Michelangelo apt and couldn't be happier. Very spacious and very clean. Felt like a "home away from home", only better! The girl that greeted us was very gracious (I'm sorry to say I cannot remember her name). We booked a few trips through Walking Tours of Florence which is on your website. The Best of Tuscany tour was the highlight of our trip. The guide, Michelangelo, was a lot of fun and provided all the information we could want. I have already recommended your website to many friends and will continue to do so in the future. Thank you!

Eileen P.

Hello, Jessica,

Our visit to Florence and the Ciompi Apartments was FANTASTIC... My wife and I traveled with her father (89 yrs. old), and the Lorenzo the Great apartment was perfect for our family group. The view from our up-stairs bedroom suite was spectacular, and Dad's ensuite room on the main level was very nice...

The hostess, Karina, was very accommodating... Even though this was an apartment, and we expected to be "on our own", Karina went out of her way to be available at our convenience... When she wasn't going to be in the area, she offered us keys to any and all of the secured areas, such as the parking lot, the main office, etc. ... The rooms were very well cared for, and had all of the necessities... And, a large supermarket is within a short walk from the Ciompi.

The Ciompi is, literally, "a palace", and the square that it's on is called Piazza de Ciompi... It's within walking distance (less than a mile) to all of the main sites in Florence (the Uffici, Duomo, Academia, Ponte Vecchio, and all of the other market-places...)

Our only "complaint", and it's a minor one, is that the office did not provide any maps or other tourist information... Fortunately, we had been in Florence before, and we knew where the tourist bureau near the Duomo was located... The Tourist bureau had "pads" of city maps (50 sheets or more per pad), and I'm certain that it would not be difficult for Ciompi to obtain such pads for the convenience of its residents.

Also, as a tip to other travelers: Florence provides a tourist bus that circles the town and stops at all of the major cites... Tickets are purchasable at the local "Tobacco" shops... We saw the bus traveling about, but only discovered its route on our last day, when we refolded the tourist map, and found its route on the flip side... We didn't have an opportunity to use it, but wish we had known about it...

Overall, we highly recommend the Ciompi apartments as "the" place to stay to enjoy Florence...

Sincerely,
Rob and Claudia M.

Dear Jessica:

Thanks for the note. We did, indeed, have a marvelous trip to Florence. Many thanks to you and to Fabio, whose advice about choosing apartments and sights to see was invaluable.

The Florence Ciompi is in a wonderful location: Even though everything in the city is within walking distance (and the views of the Duomo from our Lorenzo bedroom were astonishing), the neighborhood itself is very "Italian," filled with "real" residents who shop and eat and walk there. I absolutely adored it!

Karima is too good to be true. She was unfailingly lovely to us, finding hair dryers and airport taxis for us -- and helping other residents who were frustrated by the very European laundry room! Please, do whatever you need to keep her on board: She provides a wonderful "face" to the city.

I also was very happy with the apartment itself. The views from the upper bedroom of the Lorenzo were unbelievable. Unfortunately, something about the building's acoustics transmit sound between Lorenzo's downstairs bedroom and the apartment next door (the Cellini, I believe). The friend with whom I traveled -- and who had the downstairs bedroom -- was unable to sleep three of the nights we were there, and was thus not as enchanted as I by the living arrangements. Although the apartment building's owner was sympathetic (and refunded us part of one day's rent), the problem needs to be resolved. Perhaps tapestry wall hangings?

Again, thanks for all your help. I hope to return to Italy someday – and will certainly contact you all if I do.

Kathy H.

Hi Jessica

Many thanks for the arrangements - everything went like clockwork. Herewith some comments:

Florence Ciompi apartments: The jewel in the crown! We stayed in the Lorenzo Il Magnifico apartment, which is simply stunning - no other word for it. It features a bedroom which took our breath away every morning we woke up, and every time we walked into it. Four windows, one facing each direction, and each with a spectacular view. The one to the west features utterly glorious views of the campanile and duomo, only a few hundred metres away. Breathtaking sunsets, and amazing pictures from the window. I have attached one! Genuinely taken from the bedroom window.

The apartment is well fitted and spacious, although it does not feature the washing machine promised in the advertorial. There is a washing machine on the second floor of the complex, for use with a 5 Euro taken available from the office.

The office is manned (or womanned) by Carimo, who was very helpful indeed - right down to driving through the nightmarish Florentine traffic with us to find the depot to drop off our hire car.

It's very well positioned - easy walk to the Duomo, market, Ponte Vecchio, and both the Uffuzi and Academia, and is served by the mini-buses which run around the city centre, two of which stop right outside the front door. There are also good food shops, including a decent supermarket, right downstairs.

In short - we'll go back to Florence yet again - and we'll be delighted to stay in Lorenzo Il Magnifico again.

By the way, the museum pre-bookings we did through your website also worked without a hitch.

To conclude - the service you provided was excellent. Thank you.

Neil J.

Dear Jessica,

We did have a marvelous vacation thanks in large part to you. I meant to email you immediately upon our return but have had problems with the computer. I have a few minor items that I would like a response to, but I will email those to you in a separate email.

Florence Ciompi: WOW! This was an incredible palace apartment located very centrally in Florence. My three sisters and I loved being able to bring home food for dinner and breakfast. It was nice having our own rooms and bathrooms and yet having a central place to be together. Karima, at the front desk, and Max, the owner, were both extremely friendly and helpful and both spoke English well. I would highly recommend this apartment.

Thank you so much for your help with our trip, Jessica. We had a lovely time and will highly recommend Initaly to anyone we know.

Ciao!
Melanie M.

Hi Jessica

Thanks for your email. The apartment was great. It had a marvelous location and was very new, clean and spacious.

My only suggestions would be:
1. The portable cot provided was broken on one side and there were no sheets or blankets for the baby.
2. There were no drinking glasses in the apartment - only four wine glasses.
3. There was no dryer in the laundry.
4. The security was a little lax - sometimes the main door was left open at night.

Thanks again

Glen D.

Thanks for that. It was fabulous we were very pleased with the apartment and the staff were great.

My partner and myself are regular visitors to Italy and will definitely use you again and have recommended you to lots of friends and clients. I will be happy to post some suggestions on your notice board and will send something in the next few days.

Regards
Di O.

Back to Florence Ciompi Apartments