Apartment in Florence

[ianthy]

I have a friend looking to buy a 2 bed apartment in the centre of Florence. They are happy to restore to help keep the price down. Please can you send any information on local estate agents and websites.

Thank you.

[gromit]

I hope your friend has lots of cash, as Firenze seems to be unaffected by the slump and properties hold their value.

http://agenzie.casa.it/toscanaprestige.htm

Have a look at these guys, a friend has dealt with them, but I advise they had a good look around Firenze to find an area that suits them as some areas are not too good; like any big City.

[ianthy]

Thanks Gromit!

[Relaxed]

Gromit's casa.it site is a good recommendation, but given the exchange rate movements (dollar, euro, sterling) it's also worth looking at other 'prestige properties' sites - there are people out there who are a bit desperate to sell!

As for areas of Florence, (it is a city I don't like very much, it is not a metropolis but it isn't provincial - sort of falls between two stools for me!) the bit I feel happiest in is around the botanical gardens of the university - it gets a bit Parisian with loads of C19th appartamenti - very formal stuff (I like medieval!) but liveable. Probably not cheap...also worth looking 'commuter distance' opportunities - but best advice is to rent for a while - get a feel for the place, see what you could live with (like parking, and that general angsty stuff!).