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Apartment in Florence - Apartment Celeste is a holiday apartment situated in the heart of Florence, just around the corner from the Ponte Vecchio. This compact but comfortable studio is a perfect pied a terre for exploring Florence and Tuscany.
This cosy little holiday apartment in Florence (it covers just 22 square metres) has been charmingly restored by owner Cristina. The double bedroom, with its queen-size bed, is colourfully and tastefully decorated and very comfortably furnished. There is a good-sized wardrobe, so plenty of space for storage.
The property is on the second floor, and reached by communal stairs or the lift. There is a small fitted kitchen with two a hob with two rings, and a refrigerator. On request the owners can provide a kettle, toaster, and an American coffee machine. There is a bathroom with shower, and a small balcony.
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And the real advantage of this Florence holiday apartment is its proximity to all the major sights of this magnificent city. All are within walking distance, including the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli gardens. Santa Maria Novella railway station is 20 minutes away on foot.
[ local map | map of region | map of Florence ]
Florence has, of course, long been a magnet for visitors to Italy, swept away by the beauty of its buildings, its galleries, its extraordinary collection of beautiful churches. This central area, where your flat is situated, is especially rich in things to see. Walk to the Piazza del Duomo, where the cathedral, capped by Brunelleschi's dome, dominates the city. The cathedral, and the Baptistery beside it, are a striking contrast to the surrounding buildings, colourfully patterned against the red-brown of Florence's streets. If you have a head for heights, scale the dome - you'll enjoy fabulous views of the hills of Tuscany at the edges of the city.
The Campanile is a separate bell tower next to the cathedral - also worth climbing. Here too is the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, a gallery and museum containing works of art collected from the Duomo over the years, including pieces by Michelangelo and Donatello. And explore the Baptistery. Florence's oldest building (first mentioned in AD897) it was the old cathedral of the city.
The Uffizi too is within strolling distance. This, the greatest art gallery in Italy, contains a dazzling array of works within its 45 rooms. From Cimabue and Giotto to Piero della Francesca and Filippo Lippi to Rubens and Van Dyke - the Uffizi not only spans the centuries but also the regional schools of European art.
(Online reservations for the Uffizi Gallery here)
During the Renaissance Florence was the artistic (and financial) powerhouse of Europe, and the city amassed an enormous treasure house of art.
All this of course before you enjoy some of the best food and restaurants in Italy. Florentine cuisine is typified by simple, fresh ingredients, beautifully prepared. Menus abound with simply grilled liver, steaks and fish dishes, accompanied by fagioli (white beans) and drizzled with the excellent Tuscan olive oil.
There is so much to see that you'll never see it all. But you'll have an enjoyable and exhausting time trying! Stop at a café for an espresso or a glass of wine. And know that your comfortable Florentine studio apartment is but a short walk away.
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