Staying on (right above) the Piazza del Signoria: has anyone stayed in a unit above and facing it?

Posted by Denny (Seattle, WA) on 04/18/24 04:56 PM

Hello

I'm actively looking at several apartments right on the Piazza del Signoria facing the Palazzo Vecchio. I"d be staying for a full two weeks, and though the view is quite nice, I'm not sure about how noisy it will be (in early January).

If it were only for a few days and the volume of people still considerable at that time of year, I don't think I would mind that much. I have no idea whether the windows are double paned or not.
But at least there wouldn't be any motorcycles reving up!

So it's hard to get an accurate idea...

I think I would like to come back to my apartment in the afternoon to read, listen to music, etc., especially if it's raining and/or cold. If I were doing the typical tourist thing, I'd be "out and about" so it wouldn't affect me.

in Seattle, I live on the 4th floor of an apartment building on a narrow street with only minimal tr4affic but pedestrians passing or standing on the sidewalk below my window often have animated conversations that really do carry up and make it difficult to concentrate on work, as I'm practically right above them.

Of course, in winter I close the windows...

Posted by S J

Western Canada

04/18/24 05:28 PM

3515 posts

Having been to Florence 12 times, coming up for 13 in the Fall; I would never stay near the P. del Signoria, the Uffizi, the Accademia. P. San Spirito, or the Duomo areas.
Just too many people around all day and a lot of the night.
Probably even in winter.
Then the shop shutters noises and the garbage and recycling trucks starting at about 5 am in some cases.

You have already received good advice about other quieter areas to stay in Florence on your other posts, so perhaps look for something further out if you’re going to be there a month.
The buses and trams are pretty good and reliable.

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

04/18/24 05:40 PM

7886 posts

I booked a fantastic location for my adult daughter & I at Relais Piazza Signora for September 2022. Our room had the view of the outdoor statue of David and beautiful sunrises over the piazza. It also was extremely handy to be at the Uffizi Gallery for our timed entry.

Our large windows were very insulating - no issues with noise during the day even with the tourists. I did hear a delivery truck one morning. We loved the location, and the platform beds were very comfortable! It had a small round table, etc and nice bathroom.

Posted by Katherine

Atlanta, GA, USA

04/18/24 06:03 PM

795 posts

wow Jean, maybe Denny could stay there!

Denny, do you have dates? I was trying to look up places for you, but we can't be specific if we don't know the specifics.....

I know your main priority is quiet, but do you have any other desires? You probably won't be able to find your "dream place" as nothing will match all of your criteria, but you will have to make choices about your priorities. As others have noted, the smaller the street, the less likely cars will be by (or at least at a quick clip to make more noise) and the more establishments nearby, the higher likelihood of people congregating around, making more noise. I had an apartment that I LOVED near Tornabuoni that was down a back street, but the front window overlooked the back kitchen entrance of a VERY popular restaurant, the back bedroom, quiet as the dead as it only had windows to an inner courtyard like you wanted. (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/859292?source_impression_id=p3_1713463350_YqBtM7hbt5xaEXTu ) I was sleeping near that front window and SO LOUD. But I am used to loud noises while I sleep after I have the rough first night (sleeping 200 yards away from a very active horn blowing railroad track for a year will do that to you), so it was fine, as I loved the location and overall apartment. You just might have to fudge on some priorities.

I stayed in this place for 4 nights a few years ago, it was HIGH off of the street, so just normal street noise, but it could or could not meet your criteria...
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17582943?source_impression_id=p3_1713463221_YyziFFnKJdIlp8tt
It was close enough to the station AND the main sights, so it might work for you.....

Posted by Denny OP

Seattle, WA

04/19/24 02:43 AM

498 posts

Denny, do you have dates? I was trying to look up places for you, but we can't be specific if we don't know the specifics....

Katherine, you're so good to me!

Actually, the dates are Jan. 2 - January 16. (I'll be staying in a monastery-run hotel for the first two weeks. Then I'll need my own apartment).

I've spent at least two weeks going through listings on airbnb, booking.com, vrbo, and even trip advisor.

Having a graduate degree in art history, I can be particular. There's a lot that looks interchangeable with Ikea--and if I wanted to live in a Denver-style apartment, I wouldn't have to fly over one continent and one ocean.

Florence has such a plethora of lodgings for the foreign traveller. When I go back to any of the sites I mentioned above, there are ones I haven't seen yet, depending on the criteria I've inputed.

But at least I know that the banks of the Arno aren't going to be those of the Seine!

This charming young American/South African couple have the "ideal" apartment, and it's full of antiques and marble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMAZkFRzXwE&ab_channel=Micha