If historical splendor is what you're after, then this apartment fits the bill. For starters, it occupies a building once owned by Bernardo Buontalenti, a 16th-century theatre architect and masterful stage designer who worked for the powerful Medici family of Florence. Buontalenti is considered an innovator of Baroque theatre and decorative arts, so you'll have that as a bragging point.
The apartment is beautifully laid out, with archways between spacious rooms, and a double entryway leading to a frescoed hall. Built around three internal courtyards, the property feels serene and removed from the crowds and noise of the city center outside. Large windows face two balconies, allowing tons of light into the rooms and offering stunning views of the famous dome of Florence's Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore to Piazza Santissima Annunziata.
Decor definitely leans toward elaborate—the listing doesn't state whether it's there to stay. Ornate gilded mirrors, heavy antique furniture, and framed Renaissance paintings all lend a museum-like quality. But you can indeed sleep here. There are five bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus a fireplace to warm up beside after exploring Florence on a winter day.
Head out early to see the Ponte Vecchio before the crowds arrive, and if the museums are overrun, try the Palatine Gallery instead, which feels more like an extraordinary personal art collection than a grand museum. Afterwards, you could climb the more than 400 steps up to the top of the Cathedral, or just stroll home to take it in from the balcony.
Ready to own a small piece of Florentine history, and have immediate access to the city's incredible sights? The property price is listed as between $2.5 and $5 million, and you can find out more at lionard.com.
