GHIBELLINO

I have been living here in Florence in this wonderful apartment in the quiet neighborhood of Porta Romana in the Oltrarno. I walk 1.25 miles to class every day which enables me to eat as much as I want and the restaurants nearby are outstanding (Cotto a Puntino, Antica Porta for pizza and Cafe Petrarcha for out of this world pastries and gourmet cooked dasporto (takeaway), superb gelateria). Post Office, pharmacy, fishmonger, clothing stores, flower shop, cell phone rental store, grocery store,even a refillable bottle wine shop called A Buca del Vino --everything is at your fingertips, with many artisan shops down the road. The apartments have a communal laundry with a dryer, something you don't find often in Italy. Wifi is reliable. Great water pressure in shower with lots of hot water. My bed is super comfortable and any noise from outside is negligible. There is a large terrazza for sitting outside with my computer and my glass of prosecco. But the best part is Clara, the wonderful magician who runs the villa apartments--always with the most perfect suggestions of where to eat, what to visit, what event is currently happening that you have to see. Clara is not only a wealth of historical and cultural lore but a warm, thoughtful and entertaining woman whom I will miss when I return to the States after studying here for 3 months. You really shouldn't consider going anywhere else if you come to Florence. (If you don't like walking, the bus stop is 2 blocks away.) "