Location of Each Apartment:
Rome Location
Via Del Governo Vecchio, 73
Roma Italia 00186
The two Rome apartments we own adjoin one another and are located on the “secondo piano” [two floors above ground floor - the equivalent of an American third floor] in a building, originally built in the 14th Century, that at one time had the studio of the artist Raphaello on the ground floor. Over the centuries, there have been numerous additions to the building, and it has, of course, been updated. The apartments themselves have been rewired and new plumbing, heat, and air conditioning added, etc.
Our location adjoins Piazza Pasquino, which is one block from Piazza Navona, [one of the most famous piazzas in Rome, featuring three Bernini fountains and one of the most beautiful churches in Rome – the cupola of which can be seen from one of our apartments]. This is also four blocks from the Campo dei Fiori public market and within 15 minute walking of the Spanish Steps [“Spagna”], the Vatican, and most of the other major historic sites of the center. Our building is surrounded by excellent restaurants, small clothing boutiques [see the link to NY Times article regarding the street]; there are wine shops and grocery stores within two blocks.
Florence Location
via Presto di San Martino, 2
Firenza Italia 50100
Our apartment is located on the top floor, the “secondo piano” [two floors above ground floor - the equivalent of an American third floor] of a building originally built in the 16th Century, but with thoroughly updated plumbing, wiring, etc., most recently in 2008. The building is located on a peaceful street in the prestigious “Santo Spirito” residential neighborhood, a block from the Piazza S. Spirito, four blocks from the Ponte Vecchio gold shops, and 15-20 minutes walk to the Duomo and all major sites. Within 2-4 blocks are some of the best restaurants in Florence, as well as groceries, wine and antique shops, etc. We are one block from Ponte S. Trinita bridge, immediately on the other side of which is Ferragamo, Pucci, Cartier, and other elegant stores.
Stairs/elevator for Rome Apartments:
As with most apartments in the historic centres of Italian cities, there is no elevator. However, the stairs to the apartments are not difficult and the apartments on the second piano, the second floor above the ground, equivalent of an American third floor. We recall only one elderly (83 year old) guest who had any difficulty with the stairs.
Stairs/elevator for Florence apartment:
As with most apartments in the historic centres of Italian cities, there is no elevator. However, the stairs to the apartment are not difficult and the apartment is on the second piano, the second floor above the ground, equivalent of an American third floor. The steps are not at all steep and we have not had any guests that have had any problems with them.
Parking for Rome and Florence Apartments
Generally, we recommend not having a car in the historic center of any major Italian city, including Rome and Florence. Most of the streets in the historic centres were built long before cars, are narrow, and one-way, resulting in driving circuitously to reach even a relatively nearby location. Parking is either difficult and expensive, or non-existent, and in both Rome and Florence requires a special parking permit that one can obtain only from a police station. All of our apartments are within walking distance of most major sites and taxis are plentiful, with taxi stands within two blocks of each of our apartment buildings.
If you are in the historic centre of either Florence or Rome and parked on the street without a residential parking permit [very difficult to obtain] you are likely to be both ticketed and the car “booted,” so do not do that. If you are coming to either Florence or Rome by rental car, we recommend immediately driving the car to a rental office and then taking a taxi [or walk] from that office to our apartment. If you are leaving either city by rental car, it is also easy to get to a nearby rental car to drive to some area outside of the city.
Florence Driving Directions
Driving to our apartment in Florence, and parking nearby, is relatively easy – although expensive – once one obtains the necessary permit. From the A-1 autostrada on the south side of Florence, one follows the main route to the “Porta Romana” gate in the wall to the city: there, you must park just outside the wall and walk through the P. Romana to the municipale or carabinierre [police] office just inside the gate to the right, where you can purchase an [expensive] parking permit, valid for a few hours or overnight. You then drive your car toward city center toward Ponte Trinita on Via Romano which flows into Via Maggio: when you go as far as you can , you turn left, go one short block, turn left again, and you are on via Presto di San Martino. Our building and its entrance are on your immediate right, and there is a parking garage next door [also on the right side]. Parking there is currently [12/09] 25 euros per day. You will need a residential parking permit, which are basically impossible to obtain from the Caribinierre, if you want to park on the street and can find a place to park. Instructions to driving to rental car offices should be obtained from the rental car company involved.
Rome Driving Directions
As Rome is many times larger than Florence, it is impossible to give you driving instructions to our apartments there. Anywhere in Rome’s historic centre, there are no nearby parking garages, and legal street parking is impossible to find and requires a residential permit [which usually takes weeks].
Florence – Transit Proximity
Florence Trains
There are high speed trains approximately every hour from Rome, Bologna or Milan to Florence [and vice versa]. The high speed train from Rome takes about 95 minutes. It is 10-15 minute walking distance from the main Florence train station, Santa Maria Novella, to our Florence apartment; with a taxi it takes about 5 minutes, due to the one-way streets.
Florence Airport
The Florence International Airport is about 20 minutes by taxi to our apartment; however, many people flying into Rome from elsewhere may want to take the train into Florence because the trains run so often and quickly. [The nonstop train leaves from Rome’s airport every 20 minutes to the Rome central terminal and takes 20 minutes, then one can quickly change to one of the high speed trains to Florence.]
Florence Walking, Taxis, Bus
Virtually all major sites in Florence are within a 15 minutes walk from our apartment. In the event you want to ride, taxis are plentiful, and a large taxi stand is just across the Ponte Trinita bridge [3 minute walk to the stand from the apartment]. There are many buses that go near the apartment.
Rome – Transit Proximity
Rome Trains
The nonstop train leaves from Rome’s airport every 20 minutes to the Rome central terminal [“Termine”] and takes 20 minutes. A taxi from Rome’s Termine to our Rome apartments takes about 15 minutes and costs 10 euros. We do not recommend walking [because of the distance] and do not recommend the bus [#64, which also takes pilgrims from Termine to the Vatican and is frequented by pickpockets].
Rome Walking, Taxis, Bus
Virtually all major sites in Rome are within a 20 minutes walk from our apartments. Taxis are plentiful, and a large taxi stand is at Piazza Pantaleo, a 3 minute walk from the apartments. There are many buses that travel on Corso Vittore Emanuaelle, about two blocks from the apartment.
Air conditioning in each apartment:
All of our Italian apartments have excellent heating and air-conditioning systems that are separate for our units and easily and individually controlled. The Florence apartment has a central heating/air conditioning unit, and each room has its own heating and air conditioning control. Each of the Rome apartments has its own heating and air conditioning units. There are no utility charges to guests for use of the heat/air conditioning.
Internet connection in all apartments:
Each of the apartments in Rome and Florence has high speed internet connections, with no charge to our guests. Because of the thickness of the walls within the apartments, the “wireless” aspect of the connection may not be used in all rooms of the apartments, however.
Views:
As these apartments are all on relatively narrow ancient streets, there are not really “vistas” to view from the apartments. The “Stoll” apartment in Rome has a slight view of the cupala of the church in Piazza Navona, as well as the tile rooftops of nearby ancient buildings and of the central atrium of the building. The “Romit” apartment in Rome looks out over Via del Governo Vecchio and the ancient buildings on it.
As the Florence apartment is on the top floor and on a corner, with many windows, four windows of the Florence apartment look out over the palazzo in which resides the Ferragamo family apartment; the other four windows look out over a palazzo on the adjacent street.
Appliances and Electronics:
All of the apartments are fully supplied with: hairdryers; washing machines, dryers [most apartments in Italy have washing machines, but not dryers], international [including English-speaking] TV, DVD player, stereo, dishwashers, local telephone [from which one can use international phone cards], and American-type coffee machines [as well as stove-top espresso coffee makers]. Of course, all linen and kitchen equipment [but not perishable food], etc., are supplied.
Manager, Guide To The Apartments
In Rome and in Florence, we have local managers who speak fluent English [or are American] and meet our guests and show them the apartments and answer questions, show“how things work,” etc. They are also available by cell phone if any questions arise during your stay. In addition, we have prepared a thorough guide that we provide our guests shortly before they arrive. The written guide provides many “helpful hints” [how the oven works, etc.] useful phone numbers [names of English speaking guides, language schools, doctors, pharmacies, etc.] and locations of shops, restaurants and markets we regularly use in the neighborhood that we think you will enjoy.