THE APARTMENT
Large and bright top-floor of 135 sqm on two levels, with adjoining garden of 180 sqm, bordering the historic city walls, built in the fourteenth century A.D. and fortified by Michelangelo Buonarroti two centuries later.
In a fourteenth-century building, located in the San Niccol district, in the historic centre, under Piazzale Michelangelo, a quiet apartment furnished in a modern style. From the garden, view of Torre San Niccol and the bell tower of Santa Croce Basilica. There are many services at a step, museums and places of interest!
First floor:
- entrance and sitting room overlooking a private light-well furnished with succulents, a design double sofa bed 178 x 208 cm inspired by the simplicity of the Japanese futon, and service bathroom (no shower);
- large room, "Seta", furnished with original Salvatore Ferragamo foulards, equipped with a new air conditioner, overlooking via di San Niccol, with a spacious king size 200 x 200 cm bed and attached bathroom;
- large living room with 70s Cassina sofas, Focus fireplace, contemporary art paintings, 3 latest generation column fans and a new 65-inch Samsung Smart TV 4k; functional and complete kitchen that opens onto the garden.
Upstairs:
- open space bedroom, new air conditioner, bathroom and two walk-in closets;
- a "reading" mezzanine overlooking the living room, with fashion catalogues, art books and a 24-inch Tv with DVD player and Fire TV Stick, with which you can access through your account (device already inserted in the TV).
In the lower garden: youll find roses, wisteria, lemons, orange trees, aromatic plants and a jasmine arbour (in case of rain, the cover sheet is not completely waterproof) under which you can relax at the foot of the historic city walls, a barbecue Weber and a laundry room with Miele washing machine and dryer, both for free (here youll find charcoal for the barbecue).
In the upper garden: two sunbeds to rest in the shade of an age-old walnut tree. There, the irrigation system that, in the hottest months, waters the aforementioned area from 08.15 am to 08.45 am. Youll find the cushions of the sunbeds in the laundry; if you use, thanks for removing them in the evening so they'll always be dry.
"[The building] presents itself in the rather current forms assumed following an intervention that redesigned the front in the neo-Renaissance style between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, it is a building of much more ancient origins [...], presumably fourteenth-century, as indicated by the large vaulted room on the ground floor [...], and the door with stone lintel which has been brought back to view to frame the current and smaller access. On this, a small wheel with the sign of the Art of Calimala [...]", source Piero Bargellini, Ennio Guarnieri, The streets of Florence, 4 vols., Florence, Bonechi, (hidden).
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
San Niccol is a charming district located in the southern part of the Oltrarno.
The Oltrarno is the most authentic part of Florence and mainly concerns four areas beyond - precisely - the Arno compared to the historic "center". They are: San Niccol, Santo Spirito, San Frediano, Porta Romana. All four areas, close to the walls, where the Florentine people lived. I recommend downloading the Oltrarno app to get a detailed overview of the Oltrarno and what it offers.
With a medieval atmosphere, San Niccol is known for its narrow winding streets, ancient walls and picturesque buildings.
It extends along the banks of the Arno River, offering a spectacular view of the city. One of its main attractions is the tower of San Niccol, built around 1324 which dominates the surrounding landscape, the only one that has not been lowered.
San Niccol is renowned for its restaurants, cafes and nightclubs. The streets are full of life and offer a wide choice of traditional Tuscan and international cuisine. It is a popular place with both tourists and its inhabitants, thanks to an authentic atmosphere and its bohemian spirit.
The neighborhood is also home to numerous art galleries and artisan shops, offering the opportunity to discover local talent and purchase unique works of art.
It is an ideal place to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the city, while enjoying a vibrant social scene.
Founded around the thirteenth century, the district takes its name from the San Niccol Oltrarno church.
During the Middle Ages, San Niccol was a thriving district, populated by artisans, merchants and sailors. Its position along the banks of the Arno made it a strategic place for river trade and the transport of goods. The medieval walls and towers that surrounded the neighborhood were an integral part of the city's defense system.
San Niccol was also an important religious center. The church of San Niccol, built in the 14th century, was a point of reference for the faithful of the area. The interior of the church houses precious frescoes and Renaissance works of art.
During the following centuries, the neighborhood underwent several transformations. During the Renaissance, many of its buildings were remodeled or demolished to make way for new residences and palaces.
Starting in the 1970s, interest in the conservation of historical heritage and attention to traditional architecture led to a process of restoration and recovery of the ancient streets, houses and medieval walls. This has helped to restore the neighborhood's authenticity and unique character.
San Niccol is a quiet and safe district, lively and charming where history and tradition blend with contemporary elements, creating a unique experience for those who visit it. It is a strategic point to reach on foot in a few minutes and enjoy the wonders of the city.
In via di San Niccol, you will have everything at your fingertips. Under the house, on the right, Michele's grocery store with his goodies, "Le bont di Michele". Here you will find every kind of food: excellent for bread with ancient grains, porchetta and wines.
At 100 meters, with the apartment behind you, on the left, "Forno San Niccol", where you can have a coffee and enjoy excellent sweets and savory snacks.
Continuing, at the corner with via San Miniato, here is the "Rifrullo", perfect for breakfast and appetizers.
A few meters away, fresh fruit and vegetables from Simone and Barbara, a small shop, full of delicacies, right in front of the church.
In short, a street full of services and if you need a supermarket, a 10-minute walk away, next to Ponte Vecchio, Conad's "Sapori & Dintorni".
And these are just some of the many services just a step away from you!
FURTHER INFORMATION
- Since it is a top-floor without a lift, as per a characteristic old, popular and authentic building, there are 57 steps from the door on the street to the entrance to the apartment; 14 to access the bedroom on the upper floor. The upper part of the garden, reachable by climbing 10 steps, is bordered by a railing as per regulation. However, please pay the utmost attention especially to children!
- Provided on the mezzanine a wall socket for network cable (no. 3 supplied), which can also be connected to the modem located in the living room, if necessary.
- On the mezzanine, you will also find the Alexa device to listen to music or ask her all the curiosities you want about the city of Florence and beyond!
- In the closet in the hall, in addition to the first aid kit, you will find a universal adapter with cables for powering various mobile phones, a cable for connecting the Mac to the two televisions, no. 3 mains cables, a sunscreen, a kit to sew, some blankets and an electric fly swatter.
- Smoking is permitted only in outdoor spaces.
- Upon request, it is possible to store luggage before check-in and after check-out in the private room on the stairs of the building. Attention: this room could be shared with other guests, so the host does not assume responsibility for any theft or damage to luggage and its contents. Inside, you will also find a comfortable stroller ready to welcome the little ones.
- Autonomous heating, active only in the winter season.
- WiFi, fiber optic.
- Thanks to cell towers, the internet also reaches the garden!
- In addition to th(hidden)ssic oven, you can also use a built-in Gaggenau steam oven.
- Of the small rooms in the garden, you will have access to the laundry, with soaps and products against insects.
- You wont have access to the left side of the built-in wardrobe in the small living room (next to the modem).
- The fire extinguisher is upstairs, in the boiler room, next to the built-in closet.
- Kindly do not leave the garbage bags outside the door on the landing, even temporarily.
INSTRUCTIONS
You will be given no. 1 set of no. 3 keys collected in a padlock (+ no. 1 green badge to open trash bins along the way, where needed):
- no. 1 for the front door of the apartment building (to open, turn left);
- no. 1 for the apartment door (green handle);
- no. 1 for the selector positioned at the entrance. Once you leave the house, the power will be cut off except for the modem, the kitchen appliances, the laundry room and the low sockets which will remain active for every need. When you go out, before disconnecting the selector, please, make sure that the air conditioners are off (current surges could ruin them... thank you very much!).
Upon request, you will be given no. 1 key (and one more key of the front door of the apartment building) for the room on the stairs, where you can leave your luggage before check-in and after check-out (attention: the room could be shared with other guests, so the host does not assume responsibility for any theft or damage to luggage and its contents). After the post check-out, once you have definitively collected your luggage, please leave the keys in the San Niccol City Walls Garden mailbox, on the ground floor of the building.
You will find the remote control for the motorised roof window on the shelf at the entrance to the apartment. You can open the cover, decide whether to operate the curtain or whether to open the window itself (pivot opening).
For the Wi-Fi network (optical fibre), frame the QR code behind the modem with the camera on your mobile phone and click on the link that will appear: you'll be ready to surf right away!
After check-in, youll also receive, via message, some explanatory videos of the main functions of the apartment!
Check-out within 10.00 am: thank you for collecting used towels and turning off all lights. Thanks for throwing the garbage (except for the paper: I will throw it) in the appropriate garbage cans along the road; the nearest ones are located in Piazza Poggi. Please, leave the set of apartment keys on the round table in the living room. If you have used the local luggage storage, once you have definitively collected them, please leave the keys in the San Niccol City Walls Garden mailbox, otherwise leave them with the other set of keys on the table. Many thanks and good journey!