The days stretch out in July, allowing us to slow down and bask in the sun. The sun heats the stones of the buildings and the streets, making the air so heavy that we all seek a bit of respite. Pedestrians seek the shady streets or at least thin strips of shade to continue strolling around town. Nature continues to thrive in the gardens and delights us always at sunset.

As temperatures soared and more visitors arrived this month, I found solace in Florence’s embrace. In these anecdotes, I navigated down shaded streets and into wide piazzas, basked in the cool air flowing over the Arno at sunset, and settled under the pergola surrounded by leafy wisteria vines.

In April, the pace in Florence was peppy. Tourists zipped around town, wide smiles on their faces, basking in the mild temperatures. Now that the air is heavy with languor, school kids, cruise ship passengers, small families, and groups of friends stagger through piazzas and down narrow streets. They take breaks to drink cold beverages that they sometimes splash on themselves to cool off.

When Florence is abloom, the air is infused with joy. I was drawn to visit Giardino Bardini, Giardino dell’Iris, and Giardino delle rose. I strolled through multiple times, even more than I wrote about, not wanting to miss any of Mother Nature’s gifts that come to life. Through intermittent rain, all of nature thrives: trees and bushes sprout new leaves, flowers develop buds, and grass grows taller. When the sun returns, everything reaches up to greet her as robins, blue tits, and blackbirds sing from the cypresses.

Spring arrives at its own leisure: trees and bushes sprout new leaves, flowers bloom, people revel in the sun, and visitors flock to the city. Florence’s energy radiates down every street, along the river, and in her churches and museums. In these anecdotes, I enjoyed glimpsing the Duomo from Via dello Studio, strolling through Giardino Bardini, visiting Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and delighting in a sunset from Ponte alla Carraia.

As we turn the corner into spring, the days stretch out and the sun gains strength. Clouds come and go, but the city is becoming brighter. More people arrive every weekend to visit Florence and revel in her beauty. To savor a moment is to live an eternity: strolling through the gardens, watching a sunset, and basking in the blue hour. As time flutters by, I enjoyed pausing to breathe in specific moments and relish them.

The city quieted down after the festivities. People wandered through the streets and piazzas at a slower pace. The wintry, yet unpredictable, weather accompanied me as I ambled around Florence to commune with her. From walking up to San Miniato al Monte, watching the sunset above the Arno, basking in the full moon above the Duomo, admiring the foggy view near Ponte alle Grazie, glimpsing the cupola from Piazza Santissima Annunziata, and reveling in the blue hour from Ponte Santa Trinita.

My desire to appreciate my surroundings even more led me to different parts of my beloved city. I basked in the Giardino Bardini, admired the panorama from the Fontane delle Rampe del Poggi, marveled at the Mercato del Porcellino, enjoyed the rain in Piazza di Santa Trinita, rejoiced the holiday spirit in Piazza di San Giovanni, and reveled in the serenity of the Giardino delle Rose. 

As we round the corner into winter, the days have become shorter and chillier. Regardless of the weather, I enjoy communing with my beloved city. When I admire Florence, I feel her love flowing through me. Her beauty seeps into my heart like a gentle embrace from within. The highlight of these past few weeks was when I walked along Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici. Not only did I revere and appreciate her, but I also felt thankful to her for allowing the cradle of the Renaissance to remain intact. 

Florence is a museum, a city to contemplate. When walking along her river and through her streets and piazzas, I look at her through my heart’s eyes. Always open to embrace more of her beauty. She continually inspires me whenever I watch a sunset from Ponte Santa Trinita, visit the Giardino Bardini, and stroll up to my favorite spot along Viale Galileo. To love Florence is to appreciate her from near and far.

Over the past month, autumn has been ramping up. The chilly mornings and evenings bookend the warm afternoons. The sun sails across the pale blue skies, grazing its cool light on Florence. I find even more to savor as the leaves change color, the pace slows down, and the soft scent of damp soil drifts through the city. In these anecdotes, I admired the cypress and olive trees in Piazza San Giovanni, happened upon an unexpected sunset from Lungarno Diaz, visited the Giardino delle Rose, and remembered the moment I spotted Orsanmichele for the first time.

As fall arrives, the temperatures are lower, the light is cooler, and the air is milder. Florence adapts to a new rhythm. On some days, fewer people roam the streets and on other days, the streets are bustling with crowds of people arriving in the morning and leaving before sunset. Besides heading to the gardens and San Miniato al Monte, the sunsets offer much tranquility and delight. Between the golden light and the blue hour, the sun splashes vibrant colors across the sky at sunset. To breathe in the riverscape from a bridge or the cityscape from afar is a pleasure I indulge in whenever I can.

August was a month full of ups and down. We had our hottest days and our mildest ones of the summer. Retreating from the sultry weather and the throngs of people navigating the city was necessary. I found solace in watching sunsets along the Arno and walking through the gardens, admiring Mother Nature’s gifts. In these tranquil moments, I basked in Florence’s gentle embrace.

In July, locals flee to nearby beaches and mountains for their summer break. As temperatures soar, tourists wander around town to enjoy Florence’s delights. While crowds fill the streets, I opt for brief excursions around my beloved city. My favorite moments are when I savor the tranquility of the gardens and bask in the cool air above the Arno while watching the sunset.

Florence’s rhythm follows the transit of the sun. In the morning, the city is a whisper. As the sun rises from the east, the light becomes brighter and the air warms up. The temperatures peak in the afternoon and peter out after sunset. On the weekends, the streets and piazzas overflow with people taking advantage of the cool summer nights. During my jaunts around Florence, I found solace in the sunsets, the gardens, and extended pauses in front of tabernacles.