Apartment in Fiesole
 

Has anyone ever stayed in a "Vacation Rental By Owner" in Fiesole? There is one available for 700 EUR a week near the Roman Amphitheatre but I'm a little afraid of the"sight unseen" factor. Is the Amphitheatre in a nice area -- quiet or noisey? We'll be there for a week so if someone knows anything about this apartment and the area,(it's on Via matteotti near the main square/Piazza Mino), I'd really appreciate hearing from you before we send our deposit.
Of course, I'd love to stay at the Villa San Michele but the price is a little steep for a week's stay! I would like to know of other hotel recommendations though.
Many thanks!
Carole

Via Matteotti is not on my tiny map of Fiesole. All of Fiesole is a "nice area," but if the apartment is very, very close to Piazza Mino, it may not be very quiet: Piazza Mino is where all the cafes and restaurants are.

Jut below Fiesole is the Pensione Bencista. It's an old villa with some rooms and a terrace that have lovely views of Florence, but some people find it a little worn around the edges. They also ask you to take half-board in season, and the meals are very plain home cooking.

The area by the Amphitheatre is nice, as is the Piazza. There are not too many restaurants/bars in the piazza, so I don't think you need to worry about the noise. I think anyone would agree that staying at the Villa San Michele would be ideal, but then I would be tempted to stay in that oasis and never explore Florence! By the way, why Fiesole? It is difficult to get from there to anywhere else. Although the commute to Florence is only 20-30 minutes, it still requires planning to get back and forth. Will you have a car?

Please, please do not think that you need a car to travel between Fiesole and Florence!

First, it would be very difficult and very costly to find parking in Florence.

Second, the No. 7 bus leaves from beside the Santa Maria Novella train station -- and from Piazza Mino --frequently and makes the trip in the aforementioned 20 to 30 minutes. You should exercise care on the No. 7 bus, though; it is said to be a favourite of pickpocketers. Also check when the last bus leaves for Fiesole at

www.ataf.net

And it's quite a bit cooler up in Fiesole than in downtown Florence if you are there during the summer months.

My daughter is attending a conference in Fiesole in September at the European University Institute which is in San Domenico, but I haven't had any luck finding a hotel there. The planners recommended accommodations in Fiesole for convenience. Is it the opinion we should consider Florence?

carole12,

If you want to see a map of Fiesole, go to: http://www.ataf.net.

Select English. This web site gives you the bus routes and schedules of Florence.

Click on Maps

Click on Sector 29 for Fiesole.

P.S. I'm not that smart, this tip was given to me by another "well-known, veteran poster."

Carole:

On the contrary, I'm suggesting that you stay in Fiesole -- but please, please do not rent a car to travel from Fiesole to Florence!

The apartment looks nice enough, and Rine1967 says that there should not be too much noise from Piazza Mino.

As for hotels in Fiesole, there are a few in addition to the Bencista: Aurora, on Piazza Mino; Villa Bonielli, at via Francesco Poeti 1. There was a convent in Fiesole that many people, including a number of writers, liked very much, but I'm not sure it is still in business: Villa San Girolamo, Via Vecchia Fiesolana 12.
It's not listed as such in the Italian telephone directory on line, but you might try to call: 011-39-055-59141.
I just tried a reverse look-up: The number still exists at the same address, but the name is now Finalpi Srl. It may be the business name of a hotel, or it may not...

Hi Carole,

According to www.mappy.com, your apt is about 0.6km from Pzza Mino.

((I))