diff --git a/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml b/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
index 5bedb6107..9fd660c6b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
@@ -44,23 +44,14 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
 
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      if: |-
-        !endsWith(matrix.python-version, 't')
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         allow-prereleases: ${{ matrix.experimental }}
 
-    - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }} (free-threaded)
-      if: endsWith(matrix.python-version, 't')
-      uses: Quansight-Labs/setup-python@v5
-      with:
-        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        allow-prereleases: ${{ matrix.experimental }}
-
     - name: Set up WSL (Windows)
       if: matrix.os-type == 'windows'
-      uses: Vampire/setup-wsl@v5.0.0
+      uses: Vampire/setup-wsl@v5.0.1
       with:
         wsl-version: 1
         distribution: Alpine
diff --git a/git/index/base.py b/git/index/base.py
index 65b1f9308..a95762dca 100644
--- a/git/index/base.py
+++ b/git/index/base.py
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ def iter_blobs(
 
         :param predicate:
             Function(t) returning ``True`` if tuple(stage, Blob) should be yielded by
-            the iterator. A default filter, the `~git.index.typ.BlobFilter`, allows you
+            the iterator. A default filter, the :class:`~git.index.typ.BlobFilter`, allows you
             to yield blobs only if they match a given list of paths.
         """
         for entry in self.entries.values():
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ def add(
             - path string
 
                 Strings denote a relative or absolute path into the repository pointing
-                to an existing file, e.g., ``CHANGES``, `lib/myfile.ext``,
+                to an existing file, e.g., ``CHANGES``, ``lib/myfile.ext``,
                 ``/home/gitrepo/lib/myfile.ext``.
 
                 Absolute paths must start with working tree directory of this index's
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ def add(
 
                 They are added at stage 0.
 
-            - :class:~`git.objects.blob.Blob` or
+            - :class:`~git.objects.blob.Blob` or
               :class:`~git.objects.submodule.base.Submodule` object
 
                 Blobs are added as they are assuming a valid mode is set.
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@ def add(
 
             - :class:`~git.index.typ.BaseIndexEntry` or type
 
-                Handling equals the one of :class:~`git.objects.blob.Blob` objects, but
+                Handling equals the one of :class:`~git.objects.blob.Blob` objects, but
                 the stage may be explicitly set. Please note that Index Entries require
                 binary sha's.
 
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ def remove(
 
                 The path string may include globs, such as ``*.c``.
 
-            - :class:~`git.objects.blob.Blob` object
+            - :class:`~git.objects.blob.Blob` object
 
                 Only the path portion is used in this case.
 
diff --git a/git/objects/base.py b/git/objects/base.py
index eeaebc09b..faf600c6b 100644
--- a/git/objects/base.py
+++ b/git/objects/base.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def new(cls, repo: "Repo", id: Union[str, "Reference"]) -> AnyGitObject:
         :return:
             New :class:`Object` instance of a type appropriate to the object type behind
             `id`. The id of the newly created object will be a binsha even though the
-            input id may have been a `~git.refs.reference.Reference` or rev-spec.
+            input id may have been a :class:`~git.refs.reference.Reference` or rev-spec.
 
         :param id:
             :class:`~git.refs.reference.Reference`, rev-spec, or hexsha.
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class IndexObject(Object):
     """Base for all objects that can be part of the index file.
 
     The classes representing git object types that can be part of the index file are
-    :class:`~git.objects.tree.Tree and :class:`~git.objects.blob.Blob`. In addition,
+    :class:`~git.objects.tree.Tree` and :class:`~git.objects.blob.Blob`. In addition,
     :class:`~git.objects.submodule.base.Submodule`, which is not really a git object
     type but can be part of an index file, is also a subclass.
     """
diff --git a/git/objects/commit.py b/git/objects/commit.py
index 0ceb46609..fbe0ee9c0 100644
--- a/git/objects/commit.py
+++ b/git/objects/commit.py
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ def name_rev(self) -> str:
         """
         :return:
             String describing the commits hex sha based on the closest
-            `~git.refs.reference.Reference`.
+            :class:`~git.refs.reference.Reference`.
 
         :note:
             Mostly useful for UI purposes.
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ def iter_items(
         return cls._iter_from_process_or_stream(repo, proc)
 
     def iter_parents(self, paths: Union[PathLike, Sequence[PathLike]] = "", **kwargs: Any) -> Iterator["Commit"]:
-        R"""Iterate _all_ parents of this commit.
+        R"""Iterate *all* parents of this commit.
 
         :param paths:
             Optional path or list of paths limiting the :class:`Commit`\s to those that
diff --git a/git/refs/symbolic.py b/git/refs/symbolic.py
index 510850b2e..1b90a3115 100644
--- a/git/refs/symbolic.py
+++ b/git/refs/symbolic.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from git.config import GitConfigParser
     from git.objects.commit import Actor
-    from git.refs import Head, TagReference, RemoteReference, Reference
     from git.refs.log import RefLogEntry
     from git.repo import Repo
 
@@ -387,17 +386,23 @@ def set_object(
         # set the commit on our reference
         return self._get_reference().set_object(object, logmsg)
 
-    commit = property(
-        _get_commit,
-        set_commit,  # type: ignore[arg-type]
-        doc="Query or set commits directly",
-    )
+    @property
+    def commit(self) -> "Commit":
+        """Query or set commits directly"""
+        return self._get_commit()
+
+    @commit.setter
+    def commit(self, commit: Union[Commit, "SymbolicReference", str]) -> "SymbolicReference":
+        return self.set_commit(commit)
+
+    @property
+    def object(self) -> AnyGitObject:
+        """Return the object our ref currently refers to"""
+        return self._get_object()
 
-    object = property(
-        _get_object,
-        set_object,  # type: ignore[arg-type]
-        doc="Return the object our ref currently refers to",
-    )
+    @object.setter
+    def object(self, object: Union[AnyGitObject, "SymbolicReference", str]) -> "SymbolicReference":
+        return self.set_object(object)
 
     def _get_reference(self) -> "SymbolicReference":
         """
@@ -496,12 +501,14 @@ def set_reference(
         return self
 
     # Aliased reference
-    reference: Union["Head", "TagReference", "RemoteReference", "Reference"]
-    reference = property(  # type: ignore[assignment]
-        _get_reference,
-        set_reference,  # type: ignore[arg-type]
-        doc="Returns the Reference we point to",
-    )
+    @property
+    def reference(self) -> "SymbolicReference":
+        return self._get_reference()
+
+    @reference.setter
+    def reference(self, ref: Union[AnyGitObject, "SymbolicReference", str]) -> "SymbolicReference":
+        return self.set_reference(ref)
+
     ref = reference
 
     def is_valid(self) -> bool:
diff --git a/git/repo/base.py b/git/repo/base.py
index db89cdf41..7e918df8c 100644
--- a/git/repo/base.py
+++ b/git/repo/base.py
@@ -354,21 +354,19 @@ def __ne__(self, rhs: object) -> bool:
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
         return hash(self.git_dir)
 
-    # Description property
-    def _get_description(self) -> str:
+    @property
+    def description(self) -> str:
+        """The project's description"""
         filename = osp.join(self.git_dir, "description")
         with open(filename, "rb") as fp:
             return fp.read().rstrip().decode(defenc)
 
-    def _set_description(self, descr: str) -> None:
+    @description.setter
+    def description(self, descr: str) -> None:
         filename = osp.join(self.git_dir, "description")
         with open(filename, "wb") as fp:
             fp.write((descr + "\n").encode(defenc))
 
-    description = property(_get_description, _set_description, doc="the project's description")
-    del _get_description
-    del _set_description
-
     @property
     def working_tree_dir(self) -> Optional[PathLike]:
         """
@@ -514,7 +512,7 @@ def create_submodule(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Submodule:
     def iter_submodules(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Iterator[Submodule]:
         """An iterator yielding Submodule instances.
 
-        See the `~git.objects.util.Traversable` interface for a description of `args`
+        See the :class:`~git.objects.util.Traversable` interface for a description of `args`
         and `kwargs`.
 
         :return:
@@ -885,13 +883,14 @@ def _set_daemon_export(self, value: object) -> None:
         elif not value and fileexists:
             os.unlink(filename)
 
-    daemon_export = property(
-        _get_daemon_export,
-        _set_daemon_export,
-        doc="If True, git-daemon may export this repository",
-    )
-    del _get_daemon_export
-    del _set_daemon_export
+    @property
+    def daemon_export(self) -> bool:
+        """If True, git-daemon may export this repository"""
+        return self._get_daemon_export()
+
+    @daemon_export.setter
+    def daemon_export(self, value: object) -> None:
+        self._set_daemon_export(value)
 
     def _get_alternates(self) -> List[str]:
         """The list of alternates for this repo from which objects can be retrieved.
@@ -929,11 +928,14 @@ def _set_alternates(self, alts: List[str]) -> None:
             with open(alternates_path, "wb") as f:
                 f.write("\n".join(alts).encode(defenc))
 
-    alternates = property(
-        _get_alternates,
-        _set_alternates,
-        doc="Retrieve a list of alternates paths or set a list paths to be used as alternates",
-    )
+    @property
+    def alternates(self) -> List[str]:
+        """Retrieve a list of alternates paths or set a list paths to be used as alternates"""
+        return self._get_alternates()
+
+    @alternates.setter
+    def alternates(self, alts: List[str]) -> None:
+        self._set_alternates(alts)
 
     def is_dirty(
         self,