Indaco Suite: Our Florence Airbnb That Was Steps From the Duomo
The Airbnb We Didn’t Know We Needed
The Short Version
A medieval Florence loft that could have doubled as an antique store, just a short walk from the Duomo. Although it sleeps four, I wouldn't recommend it for more than two people. I'd happily stay here again on my own or with a friend.
Location: Florence, Italy
Sleeps: Up to 4 (I recommend no more than 2)
Layout: Cozy apartment with a lofted sleeping area, small kitchenette, and one bathroom
Perfect for: Solo travelers, couples, or two friends
Highlights: Eclectic antique furnishings, a central location within walking distance of Florence's major sights, and a quiet place to return to after exploring.
On our second day in Italy, while my mom and I were in Bologna, I received a message from the host of our Florence Airbnb letting me know there had been a fire in the building and our reservation would have to be canceled.
Obviously, we understood. The fire hadn’t been in the apartment itself, but the building hadn’t been cleared, and we certainly weren’t going to argue about that. Still, I was disappointed. I’d spent so much time choosing our accommodations, and the original apartment was adorable, with two levels and a little outdoor patio.
Finding a replacement in Florence during August turned out to be quite the challenge. Everything I liked was either unavailable or wildly expensive, and we eventually had to extend our stay in Cinque Terre and shorten our time in Florence just to find something that would work.
I finally landed on an apartment called Indaco Suite, with blue plaster walls, vintage furniture, and a lofted sleeping area. It wasn’t the Airbnb I’d originally fallen in love with, but it looked promising enough.
Give Me Ten Minutes
Our journey from Cinque Terre to Florence was not particularly enjoyable. The train was so packed that my mom and I spent more than an hour standing on the stairs between the upper and lower levels, surrounded by other passengers and all of our luggage. By the time we finally arrived, all I wanted was to get to the apartment, put my suitcase down, and relax.
Unfortunately, walking inside presented another little challenge.
The apartment had some really interesting vintage pieces, but there was decor absolutely everywhere. Every available surface seemed to have something on it, and the whole place felt dark and cluttered. I was speechless. My mom turned to me and said, “You hate it don’t you?”
I said, “Yes, but give me ten minutes, I think I can move some things around.”
Now, I should clarify that I’m an Airbnb host myself, and I cannot stand when guests rearrange furniture or move things around without putting them back. So before touching anything, I took pictures of how everything was arranged.
Then I got to work.
I moved some of the excess decor into a cabinet, rearranged a few things, and opened the windows to let in some natural light. Within about fifteen minutes, it looked like a completely different apartment.
The plaster walls and vintage furniture were beautiful once you could actually appreciate them. And don’t worry, I put everything back before checking out.
Apparently, even on vacation, I can’t resist a good interior-design project.
The Best Part Was Right Around the Corner
After settling in, we headed down the street to I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti for sandwiches, which we brought back to the apartment for lunch. Then we decided to head out and start exploring Florence.
We turned the corner, and there it was. The Duomo.
I’m not exaggerating when I say we were probably a minute or two away from one of the most recognizable landmarks in Italy. Somehow, our little apartment was tucked onto a quiet street right in the middle of everything, and I hadn’t realized just how convenient the location would be when I booked it.
Being able to walk out the door and immediately start exploring Florence was wonderful. We could get up early to see the city before the crowds, spend the afternoon shopping or wandering along the Arno, and head out again in the evening without worrying about transportation.
At one point, we even walked over to the neighborhood where our original Airbnb was located and realized that, as adorable as it had looked in the photographs, our replacement was actually in a better location for the things we wanted to do.
So maybe that cancellation had worked out in our favor after all.
Inside Indaco Suite
Indaco Suite was a compact apartment with a double bed in a lofted sleeping area and a sofa bed downstairs in the living room, which is where my mom slept. The layout worked well for the two of us, although it’s worth noting that the sleeping areas weren’t completely separate.
There was one small bathroom that felt a little like a cave, but it did the job for our short stay. The kitchenette was also tiny, although it had the basics we needed. There was even a washing machine in the apartment, which is always a useful amenity when you’re traveling through several cities.
More importantly, the air conditioning worked really well, which was especially appreciated during August in Florence.
There were stairs to climb to reach the apartment, along with the stairs to the lofted bed, so that’s something to keep in mind if you have mobility concerns or are traveling with heavy luggage.
The apartment itself was quiet, despite being right in the heart of Florence. For a trip where we wanted to spend most of our time exploring the city, the location ended up being far more important than having the most beautifully decorated apartment.
Would I Stay Here Again?
Yes, I would, especially for the location.
Once I’d made a few temporary adjustments, I really enjoyed the apartment. The vintage pieces had so much personality, the air conditioning kept us comfortable, and being just steps from the Duomo made exploring Florence incredibly convenient.
I’ve also looked at the listing photos again since our stay, and the apartment appears to have considerably less decor than it did when we visited, which I’m happy to see.
I’d recommend Indaco Suite for solo travelers or two people traveling together who want to stay right in the heart of Florence. While the apartment has multiple sleeping options, I think it would feel pretty cramped with more than two guests.
What initially felt like a disappointing compromise ended up working better for our itinerary than the apartment we’d originally booked.
Although, if I ever go back, I’ll try to resist the temptation to redecorate again.