When we go to a hotel in the States, we usually request a higher floor, if for no other reason than the view. When we booked our Italy apartments we used the same mentality, but found out that’s not the way to do it. In Italy the lower floors are reserved for the wealthy, while their servants usually occupy the top floors. The two main reasons for this are no lifts (elevators) and no air-conditioning. The upper floors store the hot summer sun, while the lower floors are kept cool by the large stone walls. And don’t forget that the ground floor here is considered floor zero. So if we rent a 2nd floor apartment, we're hiking up 3 stories in American terms. That's a lot after a long day of exploring. Another fun feature is the built in benches on many palaces (like the one below). In the 14th century, wealthy families built benches along the sidewalk as a sign of power and wealth. A sort of offering to those less fortunate than them. It's a great little feature that still comes in handy.
