I will be staying in Florence for for 4 full days Oct 30-Nov 2nd at the end of a 14 day trip to see my daughter who will be studying abroad there in the fall. I am considering the San Lorenzo area and an apartment with stove top and oven so I can cook a few nice meals for her and her friends. I figure after 2 months abroad they might enjoy a little bit of mothering. I will not have a car so I thought being near the Mercado Centrale would be convenient.
What are your thoughts?
I love wandering around the Mercado Centrale - be sure to have one of the pork sandwiches that are cooked and served there - a small corner stall, with long line and some tables and chairs.
Thanks for that tip Frances! I am looking forward to exploring San Lorenzo!
Mercado Centrale is a short walk from the train station and also from Duomo. We stayed between Mercado Centrale and Duomo; closer to Duomo. That spot we considered our favorite part of Florence to stay in.
The San Lorenzo area sounds like a good fit for your objectives, but I'd suggest avoiding apartments that face busy Via Nazionale. You could also consider the Santa Croce area, which has the smaller Sant'Ambrogio market nearby. My favorite places to rent apartments in Florence are a little further from the center and so probably wouldn't be the right fit for you this trip.
Consider taking along a sturdy reusable shopping bag (my Trader Joe's bag takes up almost no room in my suitcase), or get one once you're there. For food shopping needs you can't fill at the Central Market, there are 2 really nice Sapori & Dintorni (upscale Conad) stores nearby - one is at the end of Via Nazionale closest to the train station and the other is on Borgo San Lorenzo shortly before you reach Piazza del Duomo. Their prices are noticeably better than other similar stores in the area.
You might want to consider crossing the Arno to stay in the Oltrarno quarter. It's just across the bridge from the sites of Florence, but it's a real community with a lovely square, and lots of local atmosphere. The Pitti Palace is in the Oltrarno. So are some great restaurants -- everything from pizza to waterfront fine dining. And one of the city's best wine bars, Le Volpi E Luva. We stayed in an apartment just up the hill from the Ponte Vecchio for a week. It was wonderful. Have fun.
I have only been to .Florence once and we stayed up in Fiesole. From our hotel we looked down on the city, with the .duomo very prominent. Loved it up there and loved the ride on the No. 7 bus, too.
I was in Florence for the fourth time seven months ago, actually right about the same time that you are going! This was my longest stay, four nights. Looked it up on Google maps and the Mercado Centrale area would be a great choice. Any place fairly central, you really cannot go wrong in Florence. Be aware the time around All Saints Day (November 1), Italians take time off and can mob tourist sites. I found this to be a serious issue in Rome, and also somewhat in Sienna. Florence did not seem heavily impacted, and crowds were quite manageable.
Thanks for all of the wonderful recommendations! I have so much to consider now!
Oltrarno, sounds like a good option for me too. My daughter is hearing that most of the time the FUA study abroad student apartments are on the other side of the Arno so it might be practical for me to look closer to there since you mention there is also a market place close by.
Apartments with stoves are not plentiful so I am considering booking one near San Lorenzo and another in Oltrarno so I don't loose out and then just cancel one when she gets her housing address in August.
I had looked at some really beautiful places in Fiesole at one point and the area did look really beautiful. Was the #7 bus a long ride? How often did it run?
How was the weather when you were there last year?
I am so glad I found this forum! Other than a trip to Bermuda last March, I have never travelled beyond NE so it is great to have all of you seasoned travelers offer such great advice! Thank you all!!
The ride was maybe 20 minutes, and very pretty, too, but I may be misremembering the length of time. I just looked up the schedule but could not understand it at all. Sorry. See if you can figure it out.
The weather in Rome at the end of October was surprisingly warm--probably in the 80s and humid. Definitely warmer than I would have liked marching around for hours every day. It cooled off enough at night that it was not uncomfortable for sleeping. Florence was a little cooler, very nice. One day it rained a fair amount but I was mostly in museums that day. I think I probably got a little lucky on the weather overall.
Hi;
I have stayed in this apartment twice, last in 2015.
https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p417919
It's spotless, and has a good kitchen with a stove top. Can't remember if there was an oven.
It's up two flights of stairs, and is a short walk over the bridge into Oltrarno.
I have walked to the SMN station with luggage from there; but one of the little electric buses goes to the station from just around the corner too.
The owners are delightful, and I would stay there again next time!
There are plenty food shops around, and the Conad supermarket is a 12-13 minute walk away beside the Ponte Vecchio.
It has a separate bedroom, and two daybeds in the living room; a great bathroom, and even a tiny verandah out back.
You can see my review on the site, under SJ Canada.
Let me know if you want more detail!
