The Bride Wore White

Although it might be better known for its historic buildings, this apartment shows that Florence can do contemporary homes as well as the rest of them.

Behind the front doors, there's an immense sense of brightness to the living quarters, thanks to the double-height ceiling and cleansingly white colour palette broken up only by a few pieces of colourful artwork. If you're quite taken with minimalism, you'll find it wonderfully soothing after spending time in the city's more touristy quarters. Beyond this initial impression, you're sure to be happy with the sleek kitchen big enough for a bout of home cooking and the equally glossy bathrooms, too.

Another thing that the apartment has riding in its favour is the excellent location. Sitting to the south of the Arno, the Stefano Bardini Museum lies just across the road, while the art dealer's lavish gardens are only around the corner, too. It's just as easy to cross the Ponte alle Grazie to reach the famous sights that await in the city centre, too.

Home truths:
*The two-level apartment is on the second floor of a building with no elevator
*There's no private parking available, but there are paid car parks in the local area and bus stops around the corner from the home
*Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace
*This home is in a central sport, so noise is to be expected – light sleepers may want to pack earplugs