Palazzo Alfani

Comfortable self-catering apartments in a plum location - perfect for families and longer stays in Florence.

From 1835 until 2007, this Renaissance palazzo was the private home of the Alfanis, a Florentine family of writers. In many ways it still is. Francesca Alfani, the 30s-something daughter of the house, continues to live here, but these days she and her young family live in one apartment and a further five are let out to visitors. The family trade has turned from literature to hospitality, for which Francesca seems to have an innate feel. She is especially welcoming to children.

The apartments have all been recently converted to comprise spacious sitting rooms, proper kitchens, modern bathrooms and 1-2 bedrooms, and the opportunity to self-cater in central Florence has been greeted with alacrity by visitors travelling en famille. Feedback is consistently good, especially amongst American and Canadian guests. Not bad for an establishment which only advertises itself at street level with a stone plaque and a grand but firmly shut door (guests are given a key).

Highs

• Very central location, opposite the Accademia and a couple of blocks north of the Duomo
• Extremely friendly welcome from the English-speaking owner, Francesca, who is on hand to give advice and even, on occasion, bakes cakes for guests!
• Large, airy, spotlessly clean apartments
• Well-equipped kitchens that make eating in a viable option

Lows

• The entrance is on a touristy street with chalk drawings and fake designer handbags all over the pavement (2 of the 5 suites overlook this street, the rest the garden)
• The garden is purely decorative – a nice view but no access for guests - and there are no communal areas to relax in
• Don't expect hip or funky interiors: décor is no-frills but functional
• No lift, though the family is applying for planning permission to install one