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Florence is one of those cities you quickly understand, but truly appreciate when you stay a little longer. Its neighborhoods are close-knit, the atmosphere shifts from one street to the next, and the city maintains a genuine continuity between its heritage and daily life.
In our Florence guide, we share what we deeply love about it: lived-in neighborhoods, simple routines, and a way of experiencing Florence that allows for everyone's pace.
Getting around Florence
Florence is easy to explore, without needing extensive planning. On foot, you can connect the historic center, Santa Croce, Sant’Ambrogio, or Oltrarno without ever feeling like you're "changing zones." The Arno serves as a clear landmark: you cross it, you return, you adjust. Florence is one of the easiest Italian cities to explore on foot.
This setup allows you to plan your days very simply: wander in the morning, return for a break, head out again in the late afternoon to another neighborhood, then walk back in the evening.
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Historic Florence
The historic center quickly provides clear landmarks: the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio. These places serve as immediate reference points: you quickly understand how Florence is organized and how to get around.
At Anchor, we especially love what happens between these landmarks. Slightly set-back streets, bustling squares, understated facades: Florentine architecture reveals itself in these in-between areas.
Returning to the same spot throughout the day, everything changes: light glides over the stone in the morning, sounds rise with the afternoon's activity, then the atmosphere softens in the evening, as footsteps slow and conversations take over.
Santa Croce, our neighborhood
If there's one neighborhood we know well in Florence, it's Santa Croce. It's a central neighborhood, deeply rooted in local life. You'll find streets bustling all day long, useful shops, cafes frequented by locals, and a natural flow between homes, squares, and schools. Santa Croce is one of the most pleasant neighborhoods to stay in Florence, especially for those who want to stay close to the center while experiencing daily city life.
The neighborhood acts as a balancing point: you can easily reach the historic center or the Arno, while still retaining a true village feel. In the morning, the area is lively without being chaotic; in the evening, it remains vibrant without becoming noisy. It's a neighborhood you truly live in, with as much intensity as a local.
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Sant'Ambrogio and the Market
Within Santa Croce, Sant'Ambrogio sets the pace for daily life. The neighborhood revolves around its local shops, residential streets, and especially its market, which remains a true hub of activity.
Sant'Ambrogio Market is one of the few Florentine markets still fully frequented by locals. It shapes the mornings: stalls set up early, cafes around the hall where people stop for a few minutes before heading off. People shop there, chat there, and start their day there.
It's this direct connection to Florentine life that we particularly appreciate here.
Sant'Ambrogio also serves as an excellent starting point for exploring Florence on foot, and for finding where to eat in Florence without limiting yourself to the obvious spots.
Culture at the Heart of the City
Florence fully embraces the present, and culture naturally finds its place in daily life.
Le Teatro della Pergola remains a benchmark for theater, with a regular program. La Sala Vanni hosts concerts in an intimate setting, often in the early evening. Le Murate, a former complex that has been repurposed, offers exhibitions, events, and cultural spaces in its inner courtyards. The Manifattura Tabacchi, a little outside the city center, hosts creative projects and more contemporary cultural events. For live music in the evening, the Jazz Club Firenze remains a particularly popular spot.
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Florentine Evenings
In the evening, Florence revolves around a few well-known spots.
In the Santo Spirito area, the evening primarily unfolds in the piazza: open terraces, closely set tables, conversations flowing over drinks, with a natural mix of locals and visitors.
At Le Murate, the atmosphere changes: renovated old courtyards host bars, temporary exhibitions, and events, offering a more cultural and urban end to the day.
In both cases, evenings remain simple: people settle in, observe, linger, or walk home as they please.
Gaining a New Perspective
Changing your vantage point allows you to see Florence anew. San Miniato al Monte offers an unobstructed view of the entire city, accessible on foot or by public transport, and maintains a true architectural presence.
The gardens complete this picture. The Giardino Bardini offers terraces with views of the rooftops and the Arno. The Giardino di Boboli, larger, can be explored like a grand historic garden, with its paths, sculptures, and clearings. These places allow for a longer break, without leaving Florence.
Florence is particularly well experienced from Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio, where the city maintains a daily rhythm and a true sense of continuity. The market, the surrounding streets, and the immediate proximity to the center create a simple balance between local life and more iconic discoveries.
From this anchor point, it becomes easy to reach Florence's major sites, cross the Arno, and then return to settle into a residential neighborhood. A fluid way to experience Florence, both rooted and open to everything the city has to offer.
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FAQS
You can book directly online in a few clicks from our site. All you have to do is select your destination, dates and the type of apartment you want. You have immediate access to availability and the conditions associated with your reservation.
The conditions for changes or cancellations depend on the rate selected when booking. Some offers allow changes or cancellations at no cost, while others cannot be changed. All terms and conditions are clearly indicated before validation.
Full payment for the stay is required at the time of booking and must be made by credit card.
Depending on the cancellation policy associated with your reservation, this amount may be refunded if the cancellation request is made within the applicable timeframe.
A pre-authorization will also be placed on your card at the time of online booking as a security deposit. This amount will not be charged and only serves as a temporary card hold.
Payments are made by bank card. Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards are accepted. A card may be requested as a guarantee upon arrival.