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Our apartment was a lucky find! The area of San Niccolo, is just two blocks south of the Arno, across the Ponte Alle Grazie from the historic main area of Florence. We have no idea of the age of the building, but it is at least a few hundred years old. It is a typical palazzo, entered through a very large main door called the portone. Typically, the ground floor is open (originally used for stables, carriage houses, etc.). Historically, the main family lived on the next level (the piano nobile), with extended family living one or two floors above and servants living on top, where the kitchen was located (in case of fire).Most of these buildings (except the finest ones) have been remodeled many times over the centuries and today are apartment buildings or condos. We live on the third floor (in Europe the 2nd floor) in a modern 3-room apartment (rebuilt in 1993).
Furnishings are modern, including hardwood floors, gas stove, dishwasher, washing machine (no dryer--clothes hang outside or in the tiny laundry room), etc. To remind us that we are in a very old building, the 14-foot ceiling is made of unfinished hand-hewn beams; the crossbeams are approximately 8x12" (much like those in the farmhouse at Camp Daniel Boone).
The view from the three east windows is great: looking out over roofs to a section of the 13th-century wall (see San Niccolo) and then up to San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful church high on a hill overlooking Florence. We are completely away from the noise of the city, and enjoy the place very much.
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