Excellent studio apartment when historic center location and affordability are top priorities.
Camerata is situated right in the Medieval area of the city centre, on Via dei Cerchi, by the Signoria square, surrounded by Florence's famous museums, monuments, churches, luxury shops, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, discotheques, markets, bars, and cafes.
It is an inexpensive retreat in the middle of Florence's historic downtown streets, with the added benefits of a kitchen, washing machine, bathroom, Internet, and a view of Florence's roof tops.
Just outside the building's front door to the right is the Palazzo Vecchio (Florence Romanesque Town Hall).
There is a fruit business and a coffee shop right in front, 'Il Buongustai' (a small wine bar and osteria that serves all the Tuscan classics at unbeatable prices) and a tiny grocery store ('alimentari') next door, an American Express office around the corner; and several local stores, the best pizza place in town (il forno), and the back entrance to a modern shopping mall.
Once the tower of one of the medieval Cerchi family palaces, the bankers of the Medici family, the tower's access to the palace was blocked to create 1 to 2 apartments per half floors.
Camerata is an air conditioned studio located on the 3rd 1/2 floor (this is called the 2 1/2 floor in Italy), with 2 large antique 'door' windows that overlook an internal breeze way from where Florence's roof tops can be viewed.
The Studio has a full sized bed with a rolling narrow table that crosses the bed horizontally so that you can eat / work in bed, use it as a head board, or make the bed a sofa!
It is visually divided by long velvet draperies that give it privacy from the living/dining area. Two wardrobes give you enough space to release your luggage and the ample window-doors fill the room with subtle natural light all day long.
As you enter Camerata a replica of Klimt's 'The Kiss', created by a local Florentine artist with pieces of leaves and flower petals from Florence's surroundings greets you, and two locally-designed olive fronds candelabra sit at each side ready to be lit during the evening.
The Studio has a cozy bathroom with shower, and a private small kitchen with a 2 burner electric stove, toaster, under-the-counter refrigerator an Italian-style coffee pot, and a washer. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, pots and pans and has an additional storage area.
The living/dining area has a seat that converts into a single bed for guests, faced by a leaf dining table that sits 4 people; the TV is on a wall swivel and can be seen from the bed area or living/dining area.
If you want to be in the middle of Historic Florence, in an small apartment with all the amenities for a long-term stay, and all the sites within a few minutes walk, Camerata is a great choice.
