| Submitted by: David, United States |
| Submission Date: 24 April 2005 |
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My girlfriend and I were so lucky to find a very central, weekly rental accommodation in one of the most beautiful and popular quarters of Florence -- Santo Spirito – where we rented an apartment for a whole week. We saved so much money this way. We have been planning this trip for a while and thought we could never afford a room in one of the over-priced Florence hotels. Instead what we got was a real “Room with a View” -- the rooftop view from the apartment, overlooking a charming narrow street, with a glimpse of the Santo Spirito bell tower and the cupola of the Duomo, were just great. In fact, we woke up every morning to the tolling of the bells of Santo Spirito, instead of the usual sirens or garbage trucks back home in NYC.
The Oltrarno area, where the apartment is situated, if Florence’s “left bank” of sorts, and it has so much to offer in terms of art galleries, restaurants, cafes, bars and artisan shops. After a few days of exploring its streets and discovering so many great cafes, enotecas (wine bars), flea markets and antique stores, we felt like locals. What Florence hides behind its famously austere face, it more than makes up for with delightful, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants. And I haven’t even mentioned the museums! After an "hard day” browsing the many world-class museums and monuments, beginning of course with the city’s crown jewel, the Uffizi Gallery, it’s very relaxing to finally drop by the down the street trattorias and watch the street life. In case you couldn’t tell, we really loved it, and I recommend this experience to everyone. It was a great alternative to a conventional tourist experience, it's like "living Florence" instead of just visiting it. David. New York City. davenyc99@earthlink.net
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