Living in Florence, Italy -- Melinda Gallo

An interview of me published by DotFlorence

Tue, 9 March 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Recently I was interviewed by Marco de la Pierre from DotFlorence, and the result has just been published today. I had the questions in Italian and responded in both Italian and English. Usually I do the interviewing, so it was interesting for me to see what questions were asked of me. I was flattered to be asked by Marco, and am very happy with the result. I was especially pleased to be called a ragazza (girl) and also a new fiorentina (Florentine)!

Here is the interview in English:

1) How old are you and where do you come from?
42 years old. United States.

2) When did you come to Italy for the first time? And to Florence?
When I was living in Paris, I flew to Rome for the weekend to go to a soccer game. I didn�t visit Florence until a couple of years later for only a few hours one afternoon.

3) Why did you choose to move to Florence? What was your job in your home country? What is your current profession here?
My idea was to stay in Florence for three months to learn Italian and to find my inspiration to write. On my third day here, I was sitting in Orsanmichele and felt as if I had found my home. I was working as a database programmer and web developer in England before moving here. In Florence, I am a writer and web developer.

4) What do you like the most about your Florentine and Italian experience?
I love how the city has inspired me to follow my heart and be true to myself.

5) Which three places are the most magical for you in the city that you want to share?
Orsanmichele church, San Miniato church, and Bardini Gardens.

6) What would you like to improve in Florence and what do you not like?
The only thing I�d like to improve would be the streets and sidewalks because it can be difficult to stroll the streets without having to constantly watch my step.

7) What is your relationship with the Italian bureaucracy from your point of view?
After having lived in other countries like France and England as well, I have realized that each country has its system in place and that complaining about it doesn�t change it. For me, it would never become a reason to dislike Florence or Italy.

8) 5 restaurants, 5 bars, 5 monuments, 5 tourist destinations taht you�d suggest to family and friends who visit Florence:
- Osteria di Giovanni, Buca dell�Orafo, Trattoria Pandemonio, Cibr�o Trattoria, Olio e Convivium
- Golden View Open Bar, Slowly, Noir, Obika, Terrazze Bardini
- San Miniato al Monte, Ponte Vecchio, Le Capelle Medicee, Il Campanile del Giotto, Palazzo Vecchio
- Le terrazze del Duomo, Accademia, Il Bargello, Piazzale Michelangiolo, Museo Bardini

9) How do you move around in Florence? Which means of transportation do you use? What is your relationship with the public transportation?
I mostly navigate the city on foot. I love taking the bus and train to escape the city and visit the surrounding areas in Tuscany.

10) Compared to the first time you came to Florence, has your perception of the city changed after living here?
I find Florence even more fascinating and magical than when I first arrived. I fell in love with its obvious charm, but I now appreciate its heart and soul that require time to understand. By living here, I have had the opportunity to build a relationship with the city and am fortunate that it transmits so much joy to me each day.

11) In what other Italian cities would you like to live in for any period of time? What about other cities in the world?
I�ve never lived in any other city in Italy. I am so attached to Florence that I could never live in another Italian city. In the world, it�s difficult to say, but I�d be open to living anywhere in the world for a short period of time because there are so many beautiful and interesting places. However, if I did go away, I would want to come back to Florence.

12) What do you miss most from your native country? What do you miss from Florence when you are in your native country?
I especially miss my family and friends in the US. When I�m not in Florence, I miss the feeling I have when I�m here. The city transmits so much to me every day that I feel its absence in my life when I�m not here.

13) Your relationship with the Florentines...
Great. I admire the Florentines for their sincerity and joviality. I think that the only way to create a relationship with Florentines is to speak Italian; in that way you can understand their mentality and appreciate their culture.

14) What suggestions would you give to someone who wanted to spend a period of their life in this city?
My suggestion is to drop all expectations about what kind of experience you�ll have here and just go with the flow. In my experience living here, the greatest gifts have come when I least expected them.

15) Any particular experiences you�ve had in this city...
I�ve had so many wonderful experiences living in Florence, but the ones where I�ve connected with locals have been the most significant and enjoyable.

A stroll in Giardino Bardini

Sun, 7 March 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Sunday, March 7, 2010

It�s a cold and sunny morning today and I had this great desire to go out to see my beloved city. I had thought initially about going to the Piazzale Michelangiolo, but decided against it because it can be too busy with tourists and wedding parties taking foto (photos). I suddenly thought about going to Giardino Bardini because of its quietness. I can see a part of it from our apartment and I saw that the hillsides are now green even though many of the trees still don�t have leaves.

I walked across Ponte alle Grazie with my arms tightly crossed across my stomach to keep the cold wind from sneaking underneath my jacket. I was happy to see the light green water in the Arno swirling around.

I continued on to via Bardi and walked into the entrance of the giardino (gardens). I flashed my tessera (card) for the Amici degli Uffizi and was given my ticket to enter.

I walked up the hillside along the stony path and kept looking out at the city. Where I was, the sky was clear and blue, but in the distance there were some clouds floating quickly by.

I love taking foto (photos) of the parts of the city that I find charming, and today I couldn�t keep my eyes off of the Duomo. It seemed even more stunning from the giardino. Sometimes I could see Palazzo Vecchio and at other times it was hidden. I felt as if I were close to it even though it�s across the fiume (river). I walked up to the top where the caf� under the loggia is. There were only a handful of people strolling around, which lent to the serene surroundings that I enjoyed.

In the end, I took at least 20 different foto of the Duomo from different angles. I even took a foto of our building with the Duomo hovering just behind it. I posted my favorite foto here.

When I heard church bells ringing at noon, I hurried home to get ready for lunch with my suoceri (in-laws). When I returned to our apartment, I looked up at the giardino and saw where I was standing earlier.

I�m happy I took a quick trip to the Giardino Bardini this morning even though I didn�t bring a notebook with me. I had wanted to write while I was sitting above the city, but I was happy to take foto of my beloved city instead.

Visiting Museo Orsanmichele

Mon, 1 March 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Monday, March 1, 2010

I had been wanting to visit the Orsanmichele museo (museum) since I returned from my trip to the US. Normally my Mondays are busy with things I need to do to start the week. Fortunately today was the first Monday I had time to to visit the museo of my favorite chiesa (church). I was even more fortunate because the sun was peeking out of the clouds this morning. The chiesa is in a tall building, which used to be a granaio (granary) and consists of three levels: the chiesa on the ground floor, the museo where all the original statues are housed on the middle floor, and a large room at the top that offers a 360� panorama of the city.

On the two floors of the museo, there are tall windows that let the sun stream in and spotlight the statues under the terra-cotta brick ceiling. Compared to the chiesa, the first floor of the museo is bright. Today I finally went to the top floor where the views were spectacular and the sun was unhindered and entered the room with great force. With each floor there is more light as if I were rising above the city and hovering a little above it.

In the top room, the monuments of Florence are almost within reach, especially the Palazzo Vecchio and the Duomo. There was a cement step in front of each window where I looked out onto the rooftops and could see all the monuments near and far. Because Orsanmichele is in the heart of the city, the views seem to be even more impressive. It wasn�t that easy to take some photos because they are just too close. I tried to take a foto of the Duomo, but only was able to get a good one of the cupola (dome), which I�ve included here.

I wasn�t allowed to take foto (pictures) of the statues in the museo. I spoke to the custode (museum guard) who explained to me that the statues were built with shorter calves and longer thighs so that they could be seen from two meters below and not at our height.

We ended up talking for another fifteen minutes about other chiese in Florence, which I found fascinating. I asked him what his favorite chiesa was and he said it was Santa Trinit�. I had only been into that chiesa a few times, but I have to take another trip there to visit it. He also told me that they are planning on putting more art work that is on loan to a few of the local musei back into the chiesa.

The only thing that I would�ve liked to do after visiting the museo was to enter into the chiesa. Unfortunately, it�s closed on Monday so I was unable to have a walk around. I did, however, walk around the outside of the chiesa to look at the statues. They are actually more spectacular in their nooks outside the chiesa to see as the custode explained to me. Seeing them up close in the museo might just be more fascinating though.

I was so happy with my visit that I think almost skipped home. When I got home, I read the back of the ticket I�d been given at the entrance to the museo. The words of a past mayor of Florence, Piero Bargellini, were written, �Orsanmichele � il monumento pi� fiorentino di Firenze. Orsanmichele is the most Florentine monument in Florence.� He explained that only in Florence could a monument that was once a granaio be transformed into a chiesa. I was touched by his words because I have always felt that Orsanmichele is very Florentine without any tangible evidence. It was just a feeling that I have always had.

Domenica a piedi

Sun, 28 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Only a couple of times a year the city organizes days when they shut down the centro (city center) to traffic. From our apartment, not a single macchina (car) or motorino (scooter) drives by. I can hear the water flowing down the embankment, the campane (bells) of the chiesa (church) chiming on the hour, and the birds chirping in the trees across the piazza. It is a joy to wake up to such peacefulness and still be in the centro.

It always amazes me how organized such changes are. At 8am, there were already two poliziotti (policemen) across the Ponte alle Grazie, which is an entry point to the city for macchine and motorini, to stop traffic from entering the centro.

It�s a cloudy day, but I imagine people will be walking the streets this afternoon to take advantage of the absence of macchine and motorini. Today might even be the last day to catch the saldi (sales) we�ve been having since the beginning of January.

As I sit in our apartment and look out the window, it�s almost as if Florence has been transformed. Without the macchine and motorini, it feels like another city. The traffic gives me the feeling of movement and action, but without it today I feel the city has taken a well-deserved rest and can just relax like the rest of us.

The traffic will start up again on Monday morning and today will have been just a day without macchine and motorini.

Appreciating the beauty of my beloved city

Sat, 27 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Love is not something I place in my pocket and forget about. Love is a feeling I cultivate, enjoy, give, receive, share, and appreciate. That�s why I don�t sit back and wait for my beloved city to please me. I seek Florence�s beauty everywhere, praise it and appreciate it. Last night as the sun was setting, I felt a great desire to go out and take some pictures. With my new obiettivo (lens), I hadn�t tried to take any night shots. The light outside looked so delightful that I couldn�t wait to get out.

I had emails to respond to and work to do, but I grabbed my macchina fotgrafica (camera) and ran outside to the Ponte alle Grazie. Sunsets only last for so long; each moment is precious. I love to see the lights shimmering on the Arno, the ripples on the water, and the illuminated Ponte Vecchio, dominating the view.

After I took a few foto (photos), I stood on the ponte (bridge) and admired my beloved city. Its charm captures my heart again and again. Not just because it�s so pleasing to the eye, but because it has a beauty that is magical and rich.

Many people notice the imperfections, like the graffiti on the walls of the Arno, the cracking paint on the buildings, or the murky water. I look past those shortcomings to see the magnificence of my beloved city.

I�m fortunate to l live in a city that I am absolutely crazy about. But I am even more fortunate to be able to appreciate its beauty. I choose to keep my love alive for Florence because it continually fills me with joy. My relationship with my beloved city is one of my most enriching, enjoyable, and important relationships I�ve experienced. And for that I am truly blessed.

Enjoying the city and its statues

Thu, 25 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Today I was in the need to do something to bring me a little joy. When I was thinking of what to do, the Bargello came to my mind. I had been wanting to go for a visit ever since I returned from the US earlier this month. It�s a place I enjoy even if I only walk by and peek into the windows. I walked in this morning and sat down to contemplate the marble and bronze statues, which are my favorites.

When I lived in Paris, I loved going to the Rodin museum. For me there is something magical about statues. They seem to emit such life and soul that I can�t help but be fascinated. I always imagine the artist in front of his masterpiece working, contemplating, and producing something from his/her heart.

I sat in the courtyard of the Bargello, watching the tourists meander the museum and studying the statues that line the walkway. I took a lot of foto (photos), but none of them did the statues justice in my opinion. I walked into the one room where all of Giambologna�s bronze statues are housed and was taken by Mercury today. I don�t know why, but I couldn�t stop staring at it.

After my visit of the Bargello museum, I strolled behind the Duomo and down to Piazza Santissima Annunziata where I used to live. It was a sunny, yet cloudy day so people were sitting on the steps under the loggia in the piazza. I took some more foto and liked the one I took of the statue of Grand Duke Ferdinando I, which was Giambologna's last work.

I enjoyed visiting my old piazza especially since I rarely walk over to that part of my modest-sized city. I love strolling the streets and taking foto of my beloved city. At every corner I am truly fascinated and in awe.

For me photography is a joyful hobby of mine. I love capturing Florence from different angles and perspectives, but sometimes one aspect of it really makes my heart sing. It�s always in my foto that I can see what touched me the most.

I was happy to have finally visited the Bargello today and feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to visit it whenever I please. I�d certainly love to go more often because it is such an inspiration and a joy to enter. I enjoy being immersed in so much beauty and history. I do hope that the next time at least one of my foto of the museo (museum) on my next visit.

La Fiorentina: an extension of my love for Florence

Mon, 22 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Monday, February 22, 2010

A lot of my friends don�t understand my love for the Fiorentina, Florence�s squadra di calcio (soccer team). I was never a big tifosa (fan) of any squadra before even though I have always loved calcio (soccer). I used to only watch the big partite di calcio (soccer matches), like the World Cup. But since I�ve been in Florence, my love for calcio and especially the Fiorentina has grown greatly. Yesterday, I finally got to go to a home partita and felt such great joy to be there to cheer on my squadra with thousands of other tifosi in the Curva Fiesole.

Alessandro and I went to Munich last week to cheer on our squadra and even though the atmosphere was amazing with about 6,000 tifosi in the stadio (stadium), it wasn�t the same as being in our stadio Franchi.

When I started going to the stadio to watch the Fiorentina play, I used to look over at the Curva Fiesole with great interest and desire to be a part of that section of the stadio. I didn�t like sitting still in my cold seat in the stadio while others were cheering on our squadra. I wanted to be a part of the partita too.

When Alessandro and I decided to get our abbonnamenti (season tickets) last year, I insisted on being in the Curva Fiesole because to me it is the heart of the stadio. One guy, Fabrizio, leads not only the Curva Fiesole, but the entire stadio to cheer, sing, clap, stand up, and raise our hands.

Apart from the very few cori (cheers) against the other squadra, the cori we sing are not only about supporting our team, but more often than not about the love for the Fiorentina and Florence. �Tu sei la mia passione (You are my passion)� and �Ovunque tu sarai, non ti lasceremo mai (Wherever you are, we will never leave you).�

Fiorentina�s color is viola (purple), and people often talk about having a cuore Viola (purple heart) to express that their squadra is in their heart. People not only support their squadra, but love their squadra.

I�m normally not a person who is interested in being a part of a group, but I do enjoy going to the stadio where about 10,000 of us in the Curva Fiesole and over 40,000 people in all join together to show our support and express our love for the Fiorentina. It is an incredibly emotional experience that is not easy to put into words. It is something that I truly enjoy doing especially knowing how much our squadra appreciates and values the tifosi.

For me, being a tifosa of the Fiorentina is an extension of my love of Florence. Where else can I cheer for over an hour and a half about the city and the squadra I love? Forza Viola!

Making time

Sat, 20 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Ever since I have returned to Florence, I�ve been so busy that i haven�t had much time to enjoy my beloved city. Besides the work that piled up in my absence, I had articles to write, interviews to do, and other projects to work on. I haven�t even had much time to visit with my friends either these past few days. Today, however, I finally made some time to walk around a bit and take a couple of foto (photos) before meeting up with a friend for a caff� (coffee).

The streets were crowded with tourists while I walked down the lungarno (street that runs alongside the Arno) toward the Ponte Vecchio. I was so taken by the colors of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno that I had to snap at least one foto, which I included here. I continued down via Guicciardini toward Piazza Pitti to pick up my friend.

Besides being busy since my return to Florence, I think I have also been digesting my stay in California. Despite my wonderful experiences visiting friends and family, I felt a bit lost in the state where I was born. I think if I didn�t speak English, I would just be another foreigner traveling around. It is an odd feeling to be from a place and yet not feel as if you fit in.

I�m so happy that I was born in the U.S., even though I had no choice, but my American culture has instilled me with incredible gifts: positivity, a desire to succeed, and a drive to always do more and be more. But, I feel much more at home in Florence where I feel nurtured and cared for. Not just my body, but also my heart and soul.

When I am in the US, I feel that my desire to write is lessened. It�s as if I�m dried up creatively. Maybe I just needed my own surroundings, my family, my routine, and my home. But, I think I might have just missed my beloved city. Not only its beauty inspires me, but also its energy. That same energy that gave birth to the Renaissance entices me to be more true to myself and to always follow my heart. And for these two reasons alone I think I am able to be more creative and thrive here.

I might be able to make a lot of money in the U.S., but I am certainly happier here in Florence. The feeling the city gives me is so much greater than any amount of money I could ever have.

After walking around today, I felt the desire to do more things to enjoy my city. Its beauty fills me with so much joy and love that sometimes I smile just thinking about Florence. Even if I don�t have time to navigate its streets and appreciate its monuments and museums, I often look out the window and see the Arno and the Oltrarno area from our apartment. I have noticed, however, that taking foto of my city gives me such joy that I sometimes want to just run outside and snap a few when I see how great the light and colors of the city are. Its beauty is unparalleled and I love capturing it when I can.

Strolling the streets

Sat, 13 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Saturday, February 13, 2010

For the first day this week I have finally found time to walk around Florence. I had no plans when I left our apartment and found myself going in many directions. I love strolling the streets and just seeing where my heart leads me. I had my macchina fotografica (camera) in hand equipped with my new obiettivo (lens) that I bought in the US on my last trip. I not only wanted to try it out, but I also wanted to see what my beloved city would look like.

I walked across Ponte alle Grazie to the other side of the Arno. I love walking along the wider sidewalk up to the Ponte Vecchio. I�m always so happy to see the Duomo peeking out behind the buildings on the other side of the Arno. I crossed the ponte (bridge) and headed toward the Piazza della Signoria. I didn�t stop, but walked down via Calzaiuoli toward the Duomo.

I stopped, of course, at Orsanmichele. I walked inside my favorite chiesa (church) and sat down. I love to visit this chiesa because it is the place where I go to reconnect to my city. Orsanmichele was where I realized that Florence was my home, so now I go every time I leave and when I return because I feel that bond even stronger each time.

Afterwards, I walked back out and meandered the main streets as well as the backstreets. The skies were grey and the temperatures were cool, but I enjoyed walking around the city. Not only the sights, but also the smells of the city as well. I could smell the odor of the food being cooked at a trippaio (tripe stand).

I walked to the Duomo, to the Piazza Repubblica, down via del Corso toward Piazza Ciompi, and then back to Piazza Santa Croce. I tried to hit all my favorite spots while the weather was still clear.

I ended up taking a couple of foto (pictures) and the one I liked the most I took in Piazza della Signoria. It�s a foto of one of Giambologna�s bronze statues on the Fountain of Neptune. I�m happy each time I discover another masterpiece that I didn�t notice before. It�s like a gift the city gives me for taking the time to explore.

I hope the sun comes back out soon so that I can take some foto of my beloved city in its warm and lovely light. But for now, I�m happy with the foto I took today and cherish them as much as I do my city.

Back home in my beloved city

Tue, 9 February 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I just got back from my trip to California. This last trip was probably one of my most memorable because of all the people--both old and new--that I connected with. The first thing I did when I got home today was look out our window to see the Arno. Alessandro told me that it had rained a lot while I was gone, but the level of the water wasn�t that high and the color of the water was a cool green.

I always love celebrating when I return to Florence. For dinner, I wanted to grab a pizza at our friend�s restaurant. I had a long flight and I knew that I didn�t want to sit in a restaurant for too long.

Before dinner, I had to take a stroll through town. We walked down via dei Neri toward the Uffizi, alongside Palazzo Vecchio, through PIazza della Signoria, and past Orsanmichele down via Calzaiuoli until we were in front of the Duomo. Even though it was cold, I could�ve stood in front of the Duomo for hours. Its beauty always moves me.

I loved seeing people walking in the streets, the lights from the stores cast out onto the streets, and the monuments standing proudly in the piazza. As I walked alongside the Duomo, I realized that I didn�t miss one thing in particular, but I did miss the feeling I have just being in my beloved city.

The only thing I felt drawn to do on my first day back was to see my suoceri (in-laws). I had missed our Sunday lunches together these past few weeks. I missed connecting with them, hearing them laugh, and seeing them smile. After my marito (husband), they are the people I missed the most while I was away.

One thing I realized on my trip to California was how important people are in my life. The sweetest moments I experienced were the ones I spent in the company of my family or friends.

I�m happy to be home in Florence with my marito and I look forward to traipsing around my beloved city soon. I look forward to taking more foto (photos) because I have missed capturing my city from different perspectives and angles.