Apartment for sale in Florence Italy; a realtors tour with Matt De Lucia, luxury properties in Italy
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Florence apartment tour with Matt DeLucia - apartment for sale priced at 520,000€ on Via Condotta in Centro Storico.
If you are interested in this property please reach out to me via:
Email: mdelucia@wpsir.com
Whatsapp or Voice: 860-966-1617 (U.S.)
If you have any questions about Florence or the property for sale send me a message!
Matt DeLucia
Florence, or Florence, is one of those places that feels like it was designed specifically to make the rest of the world jealous. You walk outside and trip over a Renaissance masterpiece, glance left and accidentally make eye contact with David, and before you’ve even had your morning espresso, you’ve already passed three buildings older than your entire country. Naturally, everyone wants to live there. And that, in a nutshell, is why the real estate market has gone completely off the rails.
The historic center, anchored by icons like the Florence Cathedral and the Ponte Vecchio, is a UNESCO-protected labyrinth of narrow streets, ancient palaces, and buildings that are legally forbidden from changing so much as a window hinge without a committee off on it.
Florence real estate isn’t just local, it’s international. Buyers come from the United States, the UK, Germany, and increasingly from anywhere with Wi-Fi and a dream. The city has become a kind of global trophy asset.
Then there’s the short-term rental phenomenon. Platforms like Airbnb have turned many apartments into mini-hotels. Why rent long-term to a local when you can charge tourists per night what a Florentine might pay per week? Entire buildings have effectively been converted into revolving doors of visitors dragging suitcases over cobblestones at 2 a.m. Add to that the fact that Italians, in general, are not in the habit of building aggressively upward or outward in historic areas. You don’t just knock down a Renaissance building to put up a sleek glass condo tower. If you even suggest it, someone will gently but firmly escort you out of the country.
So… Is There Anywhere that is Affordable?
Now for the good news: yes, there are still places where you can find relatively good value—if you’re willing to adjust your expectations, your commute, or your definition of “walking distance.”
1. Oltrarno (But Not Too Close)
The Oltrarno (literally “beyond the Arno” river) has long been considered the slightly more bohemian side of Florence. Areas near Palazzo Pitti and Santo Spirito have become trendy, and pricey, but move just a bit farther out and you can still find apartments that haven’t been completely devoured by international buyers. Here, you’ll find artisan workshops, quieter streets, and the occasional reminder that Florence is a real city where people live—not just a backdrop for Instagram.
2. Gavinana and Campo di Marte
If you’re willing to live like an actual Florentine (a radical concept), neighborhoods like Gavinana or Campo di Marte offer more space and lower prices. You won’t have a direct view of the Duomo from your bedroom, but you will have things like supermarkets that aren’t designed exclusively for tourists buying truffle oil.
Campo di Marte, in particular, has a residential feel with good transport links and parks. It’s where you go when you want Florence the city, not Florence the museum.
3. The Hills (If You Have a Car and a Dream)
The hills surrounding Florence—think Fiesole and beyond—offer stunning views, larger properties, and occasionally better value per square meter. Of course, “better value” is relative. You’re still paying for Tuscan scenery, olive trees, and sunsets that look like they were painted by someone who definitely studied under Leonardo da Vinci.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
Florence is expensive because it’s irreplaceable. You can build another luxury apartment in many cities, but you cannot recreate a skyline dominated by a 15th-century dome or streets that have been in continuous use since the Middle Ages.
Yes, the market is competitive. Yes, prices can feel absurd. And yes, you may end up paying a small fortune for a place where the shower is technically in the kitchen. But you’ll also live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, where history isn’t something you visit—it’s something you trip over on your way to coffee.
If you approach the market with flexibility, a sense of humor, and a willingness to explore beyond the postcard-perfect center, Florence still has opportunities. You just have to look past the crowds, the clichés, and the €8 cappuccinos.
Please call me right away to get started at 860-966-1617 or email me at matt@mattsellsrealestate.com