renting a villa at Lungarno and Vespucci, any negatives about this location, appears to be at the 3rd bridge out from Ponte Vecchio.

Are you renting a villa or an apartment? And on which side of the Arno. I find it hard to believe that there would be a stand-alone villa in that area. It's a decent neighborhood; as I recall on the north side of the river there are some (relatively) new and rather elegant palazzi (apartment houses).

M

The area is fine, near the American Consulate in Florence. It's a little bit outside of the historical center, so it won't be as convenient to drop by your place in the midst of your excursions in Florence. I'd estimate that it would take 20 minutes to walk to the Ponte Vecchio, but there are frequent buses.