Florence rewards repeat visitors. Beyond the Uffizi-and-Duomo first-timer circuit sits a quieter city of hidden museums, local hangouts and Renaissance corners most tourists walk straight past — and the best way to tap into it is to sleep right in the historic centre, where everything is walkable. A new round-up from TravelAwaits sorts through the Airbnb clutter to flag nine stays worth booking, each picked for a different kind of traveller.
The headline act for old-world romance is Signoria, a two-bedroom penthouse condo stacked with antiques — wood-beam ceilings, chandeliers, portraits and a wrought-iron balcony set for city views. If you want grandeur without the clutter, the Monalda Tower Apartment is a studio inside an ancient tower house with preserved archways and towering ceilings, though you'll earn it: roughly 80 stairs and no lift.
For space and history combined, Palazzo Della Nave is a 500-year-old villa with several rentals on site, kept by the same family for 150 years. The shared courtyard still has original frescoes. Fans of Renaissance trivia can go one step further and sleep in Cellini's Birthplace — the actual home of the famous goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini — complete with his works on display and Duomo views from the terrace at a gentler price than the penthouses.
Practical needs are covered too. The Strozzi Apartment is the pick for longer stays, with competitive multi-week rates and a location close to both the train station and the main monuments. Divina Commedia is the calm option: a one-bedroom with frescoed ceilings and marble-framed windows — and, rare for this list, a lift, so zero stair-climbing.
Outdoor space comes in two flavours. Lorenzo is a tiny 322-square-foot studio whose real draw is a private 376-square-foot planted terrace with table, umbrella and loungers. The Boutique Penthouse goes big: a two-bedroom with a sprawling private rooftop and 360-degree views that take in the Duomo, styled more like a five-star boutique hotel, with proper bedding and AC. And if you like your history with a modern edge, Duomo View pairs exposed 1400s stone and brick with a full contemporary renovation — new kitchen, bathroom with bidet, and a skylight over the bedroom loft.
One theme runs through the whole list: lifts are the exception, not the rule. Most of these buildings are centuries old, so expect anywhere from 25 to 80 stairs — a few hosts will help with luggage if you ask ahead. Travellers with mobility concerns should lean toward Divina Commedia or Lorenzo, both of which have elevator access for most of the way.
Why it matters: where you stay in Florence shapes the whole trip. A base inside the historic district means you can duck back to your apartment between sights, grab dinner where the tourists aren't, and see the city early and late when day-trippers have gone. Whether you're after a frescoed bedroom, a private terrace or a month-long base, there's a listing here to match the kind of visit you're planning.
