I'm hoping some of you who have lived in Florence or spent extended time there may be able to give some guidance. I am looking for a small 1 person apartment/studio for a month and want to be close to/in the historical area but also in an area with some locals, good grocery shopping & still be a reasonable walking distance to walk alone from the train station in the early evening but after dark. I was wondering about the area across the river near Ponte Vespucci, which would give a straight walk to SMN. Would that be a good location to try and find a place? Are there others you recommend? All suggestions welcome!
Mille grazie!! Thank you so much! I am fulfilling a 20 year dream- taking 6 weeks to live in Italy. So I am trying to plan wisely. Your advice was invaluable. It wasn't until I started looking a simple, functional, not up too many steps (and affordable) studio/1 bedroom apartment that I realized how little I knew about the neighborhoods (not even what they were called)! Thanks again!
I have lived in Florence (my first 27 years of life!) and visit my family and friends there once or twice a year. Any place in Florence is fine and locals live in every neighborhood, including the historical center. Good grocery is sold everywhere. The area across the Ponte Vespucci is called San Frediano. Decades ago, it was considered the lower income area of Florence. Nowadays there is no low income area in the Centro Storico, as everything is so expensive. The poorer working class (mostly migrants) in Florence lives primarily at some of the edges of town, such as in the Isolotto and Scandicci area (West of town, south of the river), Brozzi, Le Piagge (across the river from Isolotto, south of the airport) or around Novoli (east of the airport). However no neighborhood in Florence is as bad as a bad neighborhood in the US. For some reason the poor live in the suburbs in Europe, the opposite of the US, therefore anywhere in the city center or walking distance from it, you'll be fine.
I'm not exactly sure why you need to be close to the station, though. The station is probably the least desirable spot within the city center. Even if you live far away from the station, you can reach it within 15 min. by bus from anywhere in Florence. The most desirable areas of Florence are, besides anywhere in the historical center, anywhere on the hills (Bellosguardo, Piazzale michelangelo, Fiesole, Settignano, Careggi, via Bolognese etc.), Campo di Marte (near the Stadium), Viale Europa/Piazza Gavinana area (that's my neighborhood). I would look for any place you like in the "centro storico" if you want to be walking distance from the station. If you want to be near Ponte Vespucci, the northern side is even better. The US Consulate is right there along the river at the corner with via Palestro.
LaVee, let us know what you find and the price! I may be able to do the same next year, and Please do a "Trip Report!" When do you leave? I'm printing up Roberto's advice for myself. I've always rented an apartment for one week (at great expense) multiple times, and it would be sooooo lovely to stay longer.
I have stayed in Florence several times for a month at a time. My favourite neighbourhood is the east side of the historical centre in the general area of Santa Croce church and the Sant'Ambrogio market. I've also stayed in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood, but prefer the east side. I like the Sant'Ambrogio market better that San Lorenzo and like to walk along Borgo le Croce to Piazza Beccaria. It is a further walk to the train station from this part of Florence, but Florence is very safe and I've never had problems as a single female traveller walking around Florence after dark. Certainly you can find lots of people around on your walk from the train station to the east side of town. I like passing the Duomo on my way home from the station. By the way, I have been able to rent an apartment for a month for the equivalent of 2 weeks. Landlords are generally willing to negotiate. In any event, it should be less than just adding up the listed 1 week price times 4. Make sure you understand whether or not utilities will be additional to the rent or included. I would also consider whether or not the apartment has laundry facilities. If not, it would be important to me to be close to a laundromat. (check out the website www.washedry.it for locations) I've stayed in Florence in April, May, June and November for a month at a time and always felt safe even in November when evening comes sooner.