Is Santa Novella area safe?

The transvestite prostitutes mostly keep to themselves, you should be ok.

Rick, I've never had any concerns about "safety" in the area surrounding Firenze SMN in terms of violent crime, but of course you will have to be vigilant for pickpockets and scammers in any part of Florence (especially crowded areas). Hopefully Roberto will spot this post, as he used to work at the station so I'm sure he'll have some great advice to offer. When will your trip be taking place? I'll be back there in about a month, so will have more current information then (hopefully it hasn't changed a lot since my last visit). Happy travels!

Safety concerns in Florence? About what? The biggest risk you have in via Alamanni is running out of money buying clothes at the Santini Clothing store on that street. They have such great deals on clothes there that every year I leave a fortune at that store. I'd be more concerned about the noise from the tramways, the buses (lots of lines go through via Alamanni), and also the trains. Other than that, the only safety issue, besides leaving your paycheck at Santini's, is being run over by a tram or bus.

We will be there July 6-9.

I think anything Roberto says should pretty much cover it, but just as an added point, I have spent about a total of about 3 months in Florence over the past few years, and I have never had a problem with safety, around the train station or otherwise. Now a friend of mine (a non-Italian who has lived in Florence for the past 6 years or so), was attacked last spring. However, it should be noted that she was walking alone, it was very late at night, and for lack of better terms, it was a group of "punks" if you know what I mean, the kind that would never approach a group of more than 2 people, especially a male. So like any city, the possibility is always there for a random act of violence, but I think her case was exactly that, a RANDOM act and not the norm. I think you and your wife will be perfectly safe - just use standard precautions. Also, I personally don't think the train station area of Florence has the same atmosphere as say, the train station of Rome...
We will be in Florence for the month of June, so if anything "goes down", I will give you a heads up haha!

Rick, since Roberto mentions shopping, July 6-9 is perfect for shopping - first Saturday in July begins a month-long summer sale, especially good for clothing (sorry Roberto). This sale actually makes the evening newscasts.

Well Zoe,
I'll be in Florence that first week in July too, so I'll take the first pick of Santini's stuff. I need a couple of new suits for work.

I'll be in Milano on my way to France, but next year...shopping in Italy all month.