Luxury Florence apartment, apartment for rental

The Palazzo Aldobrandini was constructed during the first half of the Fourteenth century and precisely at a time in which Florence began to expand beyond the boundaries of the ancient roman nucleus. The Palace was commissioned by Messer Lapo a member of the wealthy Aldobrandini family who had made their fortune in the commerce of spices. Via delle Belledonne was at that time an important road which connected the Mercato Vecchio (market square) and Via Strozzi, to the Porta del Trebbio, the city door that led out towards the north. Although the family was already very wealthy, they were still greatly tied to trade and so they chose this location which was the main commercial artery leading out of the city. With the opening of a new bridge, the Ponte Santa Trinita, with its continuation (now Via Tornabuoni), several important palaces were built . The new road gained importance and eventually Via delle Belledonne became a secondary side street. In the Nineteenth century, the palazzo housed several painter’s workshops and it is known that the celebrated painter Ingres had his studio in one of the apartments. This new destination is probably the reason for which most of the flats have very large windows.

Access to the apartment is via two flights of medieval stone steps on the Vicolo degli Antinori, a pictoresque side-street, off the Via Tornabuoni. This studio-flat, ideal for a student or someone who spends a lot of time outside the house, is made up of one room overlooking an inner courtyard, it is peaceful and quiet. There is a yellow large sofa, which turns into a double bed, a spacious hand painted cupboard decorated with prints of fruits and flowers, a work table and chairs. A sliding door cleverly conceals the kitchenette, with a two-ring electric cooker, an oven, a small fridge and a sink. There is a small bathroom with window and shower cabin. The apartment has an armoured door, air-conditioning, independent heating, satellite TV, telephone, buzzer and comes complete with two sets of linen.