Hi! I thought I had this all figured out. I found a really nice Airbnb till my stepbrother said that it was in no man's land. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if this is a bad location? It seems so nice, but I don't want to make a mistake.
As an alternative, this is the other possibility, although I don't like it near as much!
“No man’s land” is a bit strong. It is close to the train station, not all bad. The reviews mention the location is great and Florence is compact, highly walkable. Nothing is far away. Street view shows a typical Italian neighborhood. I agree, it is a gorgeous apartment!
We will be using the train, but apparently I should be close to piazza del vecchio because that's where all the best restaurants and shops are located. I would like to know how long it would take me to walk there? And...is the neighborhood near the train station safe?
Via dell’Albero is not in no man’s land.
It’s a great location especially if you plan to take day trips by train or bus. You are less than 100 m from the bus station and 200m from the train station. You are a bit farther from the major sights compared to the second choice, but no more than 10-15 min walk from any of them. You can walk from the first apt to the second one in 10 min.
There is a great cheap Trattoria called Il Vinaino at the corner with Via Palazzuolo, very close to the apartment. I spent countless lunches there as a student when the Business School of the University of Florence was located nearby on Via Curtatone.
The area is safe, like the rest of the city center. But if you are unlucky enough to be pickpocketed the Central Headquarters of the Carabinieri (police) is right there on Borgo Ognissanti and the US Consulate is also there one stone throw from Via dell’Albero. You can file a theft report with the police and get a new US passport and don’t even have to walk more than 5 min.
Piazza del Vecchio? There’s a Ponte Vecchio bridge, and a Palazzo Vecchio grand palace, but I’m not familiar with that piazza. The Piazza Della Signoria is the biggest square, out of many in town, and it has major sights, and lots of (sometimes busy and pricey) places to eat. What shops will you have in mind?
Depending on how fast you walk, you could be 10-15 minutes away, as Roberto has said. But looks like you’ve got a bunch of Trattorias and other eating places right in the neighborhood of your preferred AirBnB. Once you’re there, call your stepbrother at dinner each night, and tell him how great the food is in “No Man’s Land!”
Nope, not “No man’s land” at all so I'd keep your reservation.
There is no "Piazza del Vecchio" (probably meant Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria?) but no matter as good food and nice shops can be found all over Florence. The historical center is also compact and easily walked.
Thanks everyone! I guess I am torn because I will be taking day trips, but I also want to be able to just go out for a walk and see shops etc nearby. My kids are 19 & 22, so I was hoping even they could go out on their own sometimes. I do need to find a good bakery as it will be my son's birthday while I'm there! I thought I'd have a better chance in the city center.
On the plus side, I did see that some of the Airbnb options had complaints about noise at night when they were closer to Ponte Vecchio. So it seems that the consensus is that I should just book that apartment. If something else comes up, I can always cancel without penalty!
Thanks all!
Ask the stepbrother what he means by no-man's land. To me it has no meaning but he think it does.
LOL....he just thought it would be better to be closer to the city center instead of walking 15-20 minutes every time I wanted to go out and have dinner or go shopping. That being said, I guess I would have to get to the train station every time I want to do a day trip - so it equals out. The place looks amazing and has great reviews - so I'm sticking with my gut and booking it!
Actually the area is great for food and bakeries. Besides the Vinaino, there is “il profeta” restaurant, great albeit a bit ore expensive. Also there is Palatresi, on Borgo Ognissanti, a bakery which makes great focaccia. Also don’t miss pastries at Bar Curtatone. That area was my stomping ground when I was at the business school. Shops and restaurants are everywhere in the historical center and in any case you are no more than 10-15 min walk from any place in the city center. The historical center is not that big and you are inside of it.
LOL, careful what family members can tell you. I know I'd take advice from some of mine with a grain of salt! But If you don't believe us, then read the many comments from previous guests regarding location, such as....
"Fantastic home and location. Super convenient, 3 min from train station and right in the heart of everything in Florence."
The apartment is in the city center.
We stayed much further away from S.M Novella than you will be (2 blocks north of Museo San Marco) and walked from the station and to everywhere else in Florence from that location. Your offspring are adults, same ages as some of the many backpackers on their summer adventures abroad, so give 'em a map and let 'em roam. On my own or with another young person or two, I bopped around parts of some European cities at barely 18 without incident years ago so they'll have fun.
