‘La vita e bella’ in Florence, Italy

Walking in the Middle Age brick streets of Firenze, or most commonly known by its English name, Florence, in Italy, makes one feel like seeing it through the eyes of the Renaissance masters that once trudged the same unpaved roads — Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Sandro Botticelli, to name a few.

But living in Florence, even for a day or two, as a local is a different experience altogether — it is like breathing the artistic air and flair of Renaissance itself.

Recently, my family and I had the privilege to rent, through AirBnb, the house of a local Florentine artist known as Roberto Maestro.

Called “Casa della Cultura,” the house is just next door to Florence’s centerpiece, the iconic Duomo Cathedral, in Piazza del Duomo. Just open the window and you would see the cathedral and its campanille (bell tower), which, alongside the baptistery, are a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Casa della Cultura (Italian for “House of Culture”) used to be among the studios and workshops of Roberto Maestro. His paintings and black-and-white sketches still adorn its walls.

In addition to having modern interiors, the spacious master’s bedroom had comfortable seats and some dance floor. A full sound system is at the renter’s disposal for playing and appreciating Italian music.

At the dining area, a vintage TV is attached to video CD player. Below it are stacks of shelves filled with original VCDs of Italian movies, which one can enjoy while sipping Spritz. The house is very near a convenience store where one can buy local spirits.

Grazie (thanks) to its central location and creative ambience, the Casa della Cultura had been my family and I’s gateway to experiencing and reliving the Renaissance in Florence.