Large Bedroom in San Frediano-20-minute walk from the center, florence

I’ll be honest…I found this dorm through a random instagram ad, and at first, I was skeptical because it looked way too good to be true. but then I took the leap, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life :) everything about this place is perfect, and it truly became my comfort place in florence. i’ve met so many wonderful people from all over the world, and there is such a beautiful energy here. you’re never truly alone, whether you’re grabbing a coffee or just crossing paths in the hallway, there’s always a friendly face :) everything is included, the cleaning service, maintenance, wifi and the 24/7 reception staff is super professional and they really prioritize our safety and privacy. I love that there are clear rules for guests and visitors, because it makes me feel so much more secure knowing that the common areas and hallways stay peaceful and exclusive for the people who actually live here 😊. there’s also a gym, dedicated study rooms, a laundry room, a common kitchen, common hanging out areas and even a cinema!! but the absolute highlight is the freaking rooftop with the pool, my favorite spot :) the location of the dorm is also very nice, we have a mall in san donato, esselunga is 5 minutes away, right next to the novoli tram stop (and the unifi novoli campus is like 15 minutes away by foot). it’s just perfect, I couldn’t have found a better home for my stay in florence :) the staff always listens to our complaints, and their priority is always to provide a safe environment for us. anyway, shoutout to Stefano, Dario, and the reception staff for having to deal with me everyday, love you guys xx

We were told that our deposit would be returned the same week we moved out. Almost three months later, we still haven’t received our money. The communication has been very unclear, and whenever we ask about the refund, they give us excuses and keep delaying the payment. It is extremely frustrating to have to wait this long to get our own money back, especially after being given a specific timeframe.

We are giving this residence one star, as unfortunately it is not possible to rate it zero. First, it’s important to highlight the lack of uniformity in policies: we were forced to sign a 4-month contract, while other students were required to stay only 1 month, and some even up to 10 months (a full academic year). This inconsistency shows a clear absence of fair and transparent criteria. Additionally, there is very little consideration for students. A group of problematic students was reprimanded almost daily via WhatsApp, but when the reception was called at 2 a.m. because of noise in common areas, no immediate action was taken. The usual response was “send an email and we’ll see,” and students were told that if they disagreed, they could leave—but still had to pay until the last day of the contract. The cleaning service is also highly inappropriate: staff have entered rooms while students were in the shower, showing a complete lack of respect and decorum. On top of all this, since our contract ended on January 23, we are still waiting for our deposit. First we were told 10 days, then two weeks, and now 30 days, which means we may not get it back until early March. This situation creates the impression of unjustified retention of funds, which is particularly concerning for international students. In short, our experience with this residence has been extremely negative, and we want to alert other students about these practices and the lack of professionalism in its management.

Due to ongoing remodeling of the lobby, the area is completely blocked off. Residents were not informed about the duration or kept updated, while still paying the same price. This has also led to limited access to study and common areas, affecting daily life for many residents. The pool is currently unusable, and there have been recurring false fire alarms causing disruption. The building offers fun and engaging activities, but there is room for improvement in how concerns are handled, with more consistency and equal treatment for all. It’s important that both residents and their guests feel welcomed and treated with respect.

Great place to stay when studying in Florence. It offers various kinds of accommodation, all modern well tended. The staff is friendly and helpful. If I ever come back to study in Florence, I'll make sure to book again!!