Reviews
Are you looking for Florence holiday apartment reviews? Here are just a few of the recent reviews for Convivio Apartments, by guests who enjoyed their vacation.
Authentic and convenient location
We experienced a “real” Florentine experience here in. Loved the location in the historic section. The apartment has all the amenities of home; comfortable and clean with a medieval feel. Stairway up into apartment not for the traveller with lots of luggage!! Absolutely loved it and would stay here again in the future…near future hopefully!!
“Oh Kelly, thanks so much for the lovely review. Because I’ve been traveling I hadn’t even had time to send you a request, so it was very thoughtful of you. I also hope you will be back before too long. You have to be careful with Florence, it gets you in & you can’t resist!!! Jan“
Perfect place to enjoy Florence
“What a lovely review. Thanks to both of you for being lovely guests too! It was a pleasure to have you and I really hope you will be back again. All the best. Jan”
Unforgettable experienceMy family and I are on our last leg of our European holiday and we all agree that the best accommodation we have had in this trip is Jan’s Convivio Apartment. I felt like nobility amidst its domed ceilings, high arches and tastefully designed interiors but with modern-day comforts: air conditioning, washing machine, dishwasher, TV and CD player to play Italian arias while dining on home-cooked pasta. Its location is superb! All major attractions: Uffizi, Accademia, Ponte Vecchio, and Duomo are all within a few minutes walk from the flat. Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, just a tad longer more. There’s a lot of foot traffic but the double-paned, noise-proofed tall windows did a good job of keeping the place quiet during our stay, just like old times of Dante Alighieri days :-). The fruit stand (got to chat with its lovely owner, Daniella) and the many restaurants personally chosen and reviewed by Jan (listed in the visitors manual) are top-notched – we tried Ristoranti Paoli around the corner from the flat – molto bene!Jan is the quintessential VRBO super host. Responsive, organized and knowledgeable, like a true Florentine. I asked for a suggestion of what to do on a day in Renaissance City and she responded with an itinerary complete with directions of how to get from point A to point B with a gelato or aperitif stop in between, culminating with a nice dinner suggestion to conclude a wonderful day. I left her instructions and my printed maps in the bookshelf in case anyone wants to follow the same path we trod. Paolo warmly welcomed us to the apartment and showed us how things work, and Rosemary was helpful with instructions and providing local information, as well.Will not consider another place to stay when I visit Florence again, hopefully sooner, than later. Thank you, Jan!
“Angie, thanks so much for taking the time to do this wonderful review. I’m very grateful. It was lovely to have you stay and I got as much pleasure as you did, out of all the planning. I’ve got no doubt you left a little bit of your heart in Convivio Apartment and the memories will always be precious. I look forward to your return. All the best. Jan”
The perfect spot for seeing Florence
The location is perfect, just a few steps from the Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi, and the Arno. The apartment is charmingly ancient but quite up to date — a fully adequate kitchen, bathroom, and very functional wifi. The management is discreet, competent, and always helpful. We were met on the morning of our arrival by Paulo, who helped with the bags and explained what was what. Rosemary is at the other end of the phone if you need her, and a notebook is full of local knowledge about shopping, restaurants, and practicalities. A drawback? As the presentation of the apartment makes clear, it is at the top of the stairs, and there’s no elevator, so this isn’t a spot for the disabled or handicapped. But we found it a delightful base for our visit to Florence, would strongly recommend it, and hope to be back again.
“Thanks so much, Anthony. It was lovely to have you and I hope you will be back for another visit in the future. All the best. Jan”
Great apartment in prime location
This is a great family-friendly apartment to stay in the heart of Florence, very conveniently located near the Piazza dell Repubblica and the Duomo. Janine and Rosemary were great, and made the stay very easy. If you are a history lover, you will greatly appreciate this place, as it is part of the historical medieval tower complex in central Florence, once owned by the Cerchi family. Staying here piqued my interest in medieval Florence with its rich history of feuds between rival banking families, in particular the Cerchi and Donati families. This property is also adjacent to the Alighieri property (Dante had an arranged marriage with Gemma Donati). The Casa di Dante museum around the corner provides much information about this time period.
“Thanks or the lovely review Mark. It was a pleasure to have you and it was so nice that you were so engaged in the history of the house and the surroundings. Even after all these years, I still get excited about it. Sometimes I put my head out the window and watch people passing below, as they have for a thousand years, and I cannot believe I am part of it. I love that so many of our guests take away with them a part of what that feels like. Hope to see you back again one day. All the best. Jan“
fantastic comfortable hideaway in a perfect location in Florence
We LOVED our stay here! It was quiet, cool, relaxing, and in an amazing location that just couldn’t be beat! Also, for people who have never been to Florence before, to be able to stay in such an ancient building was so charming and unlike anything possible in the U.S.! The air conditioning worked great, although the thick walls helped keep things cool too. One small suggestion: give more specific and clear instructions about garbage separation and disposal for those unfamiliar with the Italian system. Great rental, would highly recommend!
“Thanks Carla, for the lovely review. I’m so glad you had a great time. I must say the aircon makes a big difference in the summertime! I’ll go through the Info manual and make the garbage instructions clearer – thanks for the suggestion. I hope you might be back again one day. All the best. Jan”
Fab locationWe had barely four days in Florence and couldn’t have asked for a better location! Piazza Vecchia, Duomo, Uffizi, restaurants and shopping all literally steps away. The instructions for arriving and departing are clear and detailed. Everything was very seamless. Very grateful for the air conditioning and that we were only two flights of stairs up! Fantastic feeling of being part of the history of Florence in a building that dates to the 12th century
“Thanks so much Jamie. I’m so glad you both had a wonderful time. I know I always say that I hope my guests will be back, but you really will, you know! More and more, our guests are repeat guests who come again and again. I hope you will both be among them. In the meantime, all the very best. Jan”
Wonderful apartment in the heart of Florence!Perfect location, spacious, clean, comfortable, atmospheric with everything we needed, plus a very helpful manager Rosemary and key holder Paolo! And the tips in the instruction book were excellent. We are still feeling like we have left Wonderland.:) Thank you for the privilege of sharing your home Janine.
“Kerri, thanks so much for the lovely review. It was so nice to have you as guests and I really appreciate you taking the trouble to write the review. Hope to have you back again in the future. All the best. Jan”
What a wonderful apartment! Nicely appointed, well equipped, and a superb locationThis apartment is a real find, spacious, lovely decor, and located right in the center of everything! We would highly recommend it, and will return to it if we are ever back in Florence.
“Thanks so much Marilyn. It was lovely to have you and I’m grateful you took the time to write a review. I also hope you will be back one day. All the best. Jan“
What a wonderful apartment! Nicely appointed, well equipped, and a superb locationThis apartment is a real find, spacious, lovely decor, and located right in the center of everything! We would highly recommend it, and will return to it if we are ever back in Florence.
“Thanks so much Marilyn. It was lovely to have you and I’m grateful you took the time to write a review. I also hope you will be back one day. All the best. Jan“
Excellent location, amenities, hospitality
Our 5 day Florence visit was enhanced by staying in Jan’s beautiful apartment. A few minute’s walk to many attractions, food, and gelato. Jan and Rosemary were most helpful about answering questions and giving tips. We walked all over Florence and I can’t think of a better location for an apartment. The groceries 5 steps from the front door was an unexpected bonus.
Recommended for: Families with Young Children, Sightseeing, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Romantic Getaway, Families with Teenagers.
“Thanks for taking the time to write the nice review and it was great to have you – I hope there will be more trips to Florence and to Convivio apartment. All the best Jan”
Spectacular apartment in the best location!
This apartment is simply as good as it gets!. It is our second visit having stayed here some years ago and we were delighted to be able to return. The apartment is centrally located, very close to the Palazzo Vecchio and to the Duomo. It is spacious, clean and beautifully appointed with great attention to detail. Everything you could possibly need is here. All our communications with the owner when making the booking and during our stay were easy and incredibly helpful. We were given very clear instructions for our arrival and receiving updates in the lead up to our arrival about what was going to be on in Florence during our stay was very thoughtful and helpful. We were greeted warmly on arrival and given helpful instructions about Florence and recommendations for restaurants and activities. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this beautiful apartment and we look forward to returning again.
In love with Convivo and Firenzie
Jan, it has been great. The apartment is lovely and you have provided everything! So convenient to all of the places we want to see. We met some great Americans on our Tuscan bike tour yesterday. The guides were wonderful Italians! Went up to Castello Guicciardini and toured the wine production. Then we rode bikes up and down the hills and back around to the castle. What a day! Tomorrow back to the market. We loved that! Florence is a magical city. Thanks for making our stay here one to remember! Fondly, Sherri
“Thanks so much fr taking the time to write the review, Sherri. I am so happy to hear that you have had a wonderful time and I hope the memories will be with you forever. You will have to come back. All the very best Jan”
Jan’s place was exactly as advertised and what the reviews described it as. The apartment was perfect and it was more than what we expected. Jan was a huge help not only for local things in Florence but also for our other stays in Rome and Cinque Terre. She checked in on us after checking in to be sure everything was in order and Rosemary her local manager also was quite helpful for day to day questions. The location couldn’t be better. Very short walks to all the major sites. If you have a chance go to Il Pennelo for dinner and if you have a little extra in your budget Bucco Mario is a must. Side trips to Fiesole and Siena (per Jan) were easy and a nice break from Florence. Thanks again Jan and Rosemary for making our first trip to Italy unforgettable. Look no further this is the place to stay.
Hello Jan,
We have enjoyed your place so much. It’s in the perfect location. Love the fruit vendor across the way. My daughter has been eating about 12 euros of fruit a day. We have fallen in love with Florence!
This was the second time I have stayed at this apartment. The owner and staff are so wonderful and helpful. The renting process was easy and reliable. The location is amazing and within easy walking distance to all the major sights but yet remains very quiet and safe at night. The apartment is beautiful and well appointed, but what I like the best about this apartment is that it has a feel of authenticity with its vaulted and deep wood ceilings and its window seats to look out on the life of Florence, and it is not decorated in super cold modern tacky as so many rental apartments are but this apartment has a very warm and genuine feel to it so when I am here it feels like I am actually in a home away from home and not a rental. Everything is super clean with out the mold you find in the corners of other places and the stairs are easily navigated for heavy luggage. The water pressure is great and we four woman never ran out of hot water nor did we ever blow an electrical circuit (no small matter is that if you have ever stayed in Italy) and we had plenty of room for all of us and our luggage. There is a vegetable stand downstairs from the apartment and the best Grocery store is right around the corner within easy walking distance for carrying back all the amazing food you can get to eat in Florence or if you want to eat out excellent restaurants are right around the corner. I can not say enough good things about this apartment or about Janine and her staff, nor can I wait to go back to my favorite apartment and my favorite city in the world.
This our second visit to Convivio and it was just as lovely as last time. We were at the centre of everything in an historic building with every convenience. We were met by the apartment manager who explained everything. The Uffizi is a three minute walk one way and the Duomo is three minutes in the other direction! Jan the owner could not have been more helpful in the weeks leading up to our visit. The apartment was very comfortable and is highly recommended.
What an enjoyable three weeks in this beautiful Florence apartment. The apartment is as amazing as I remember from the last time I visited four years ago! The ceiling in the living room will never cease to amaze me and I forgot how close it is to the impressive Piazza della Signoria. Thanks to your helpful information booklet we found our way easily around town; from the Uffizi to Galileo’s museum, the Mercato Centrale and Sant’ambrogio market, Fiesole to Settignano. February is a great time to visit Florence, we had mostly sunny days and when the temperature dropped at night we were already tucked away in a cosy nearby ristorante or sitting down at the large dining room table with a glass of wine. It was lovely to be able to buy fresh food from the nearby markets and cook up a storm in the well-appointed kitchen. We have many treasured memories from our stay and cannot thank you enough for making our stay in Florence so enjoyable.
Everything about this flat was great. Jan and on-site manager Rosemary were extremely helpful, the building is extremely central, steps from the Piazza Signoria, and it is in an old aristocratic palace, full of charming historical details. Well-equipped, lots of guidebooks and other reading material, really felt like home. We will certainly stay there again. Only small incident was a total blackout caused by running too many appliances at once – Rosemary helped us resolve it over the phone.
The location of this apartment couldn’t have been better off one of the nicest squares in Florence only minutes from the Uffizi. The fruit and veg shop opposite had an amazing choice and a supermarket just around the corner or the shop 2 doors away sold everything else you might need. An amazing choice of restaurants…too many caused us the biggest problem so I would advise anyone to just go with their gut reaction and not try to follow suggestions! Having said that it would be a crime not to use Cantinetta dei Verrazzano just round the corner for as many snacks, coffees, breakfasts as possible. And, as recommended by Jan, the terrace cafe in la Rinascente department store has great views. The apartment is perfect…great size, comfortable, full of information, spotless, warm, central, quiet, fully equipped including basic provisions which is always very welcome. Jan could not have been more helpful before and during the stay…she answered endless questions promptly and fully and made us feel like we were her friends visiting not just clients. Can’t recommend this accommodation more highly.
We just spent 4 days in this wonderful apartment ending a 6 week journey. I could easily have spent a month! This apartment is clean, spacious, perfectly located and the support from the owner Jan and manager Rosemary make the stay and finding areas of interest a joy. Everything about the apartment and the area are spelled out in a helpful binder. This is a gem and we are lucky she shares!
Pros: Great location between Palazzo Veccio and Duomo with grocery and restaurants steps from the door. Seems like all attractions were within an easy 10-minute walk (David, Veccio, Ufizzi, Pitti Palace, Bargello. Wonderful clean and charming space for four with almost all of the little amenities for daily living (laundry soap, spices and kitchen gear, etc…). Manager (Rosemary) was a joy – provided many helpful recommendations on do’s and don’ts. Booking was easy with Jan and she provided a list of her favorite things in Florence, which added greatly to our trip (even if we couldn’t do all of them). Our last stay in Florence was marred by scooter’s zooming by all night and no AC. Climate control here was great, we were in the “pedestrian only” zone and windows kept the sound out of all the sleeping rooms (odd, but it seemed we could hear the outside sounds in the bathroom, but not in the sleeping rooms – works for me!). Most comfortable beds out of the 5 apartments we stayed in on this holiday. Fabulous space to stretch out and let everyone get away from each other just a bit. Cons: No lift, but it’s just up 1.5 flights of stairs, so that’s not very bad. The main room, with it’s marvelous antique wooden ceiling, can be a bit dark. This is not a problem if you know that the switch for the main lights is in the kitchen, but we didn’t make that discovery until the morning we were leaving. I would highly recommend this place and direct friends and family here for their stay in Florence.
Jan, it has been great. The apartment is lovely and you have provided everything! So convenient to all of the places we want to see. We met some great Americans on our Tuscan bike tour yesterday. The guides were wonderful Italians! Went up to Castello Guicciardini and toured the wine production. Then we rode bikes up and down the hills and back around to the castle. What a day! Tomorrow back to the market. We loved that! Florence is a magical city. Thanks for making our stay here one to remember!