Mostarda

With a striking contrast between the modern, minimalist aesthetic of the flat, and the seventeenth-century palazzo that houses it, this apartment is sure to impress as soon as you pass the threshold. In the living area, antique furnishings and a mustard velvet couch are illuminated by enormous arched windows. We particularly loved the double-height ceilings with original beams, adding a touch of grandeur to the space. There’s a mezzanine level for quiet downtimes and a private sunshine yellow patio for laidback breakfasts and glasses of Chianti at dusk. Step outside your building and take the minute’s walk to the Palazzo Strozzi, home to international contemporary exhibitions. If Renaissance masterpieces are more your thing, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Verrocchio and Leonardo’s Baptism of Christ hang proudly in the Uffizi Gallery, a five-minute walk away.

Home truths:
* Child-friendly amenities such as a cot and a high chair are available upon request *The piazza can be a little noisy at night *Two people can sleep on a sofa bed on the mezzanine, but there's no real separation between that space and the living room downstairs *If you’ll be bringing a car, there is paid parking available in the vicinity