In the first half of June, summer came into full swing. The days are longer, the temperatures are higher, the colors are brighter, and the streets are more crowded. Strolling outside of the city center and visiting the gardens is a delightful way to tap into Florence’s true essence.

Spring is is a time to bask in nature and relish in Mother Nature’s gifts. Over the past few weeks, unexpected spurts of rain passed through the city to nourish the earth. The shrubs, flowers, and trees around Florence flourished. In the Giardino dell’Iris, the Giardino di Boboli, and the Giardino Bardini, colorful blossoms filled the air with their delightful scent and emanated joy. One day, as I approached the Ponte alle Grazie, I paused along the lungarno to admire a tranquil view of San Niccolò. This season nudges me to dive deeper into my surroundings and appreciate the transformations occurring daily.

Spring infuses Florence with new life and a burst of hope. This season brings with it vivid colors, unpredictable weather, longer days, and warm sunlight. Over these past two weeks, I visited the Giardino delle Rose where colored roses were blossoming and the Giardino Bardini where the fragrant wisteria was flourishing. I stood on Ponte Santa Trinita twice: to glimpse the full moon and to bask in the riverscape as the sun was setting. I also took other photos of moments I enjoyed while I strolled around town.

As spring settles in, the rich colors and warm light invigorates Florence. From the irises blossoming around town to the rose buds sprouting from leafy branches, the city is coming to life. Over the past three weeks, I took long strolls up to Piazzale Michelangiolo, ran up to San Miniato, hiked up to Viale Galileo, perused the Giardino delle Rose, ambled around Piazza Santo Spirito, admired the architecture of the Mercato del Porcellino, delighted in an impromptu sunset from Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, and paused to give thanks to Dante in Piazza Santa Croce. Delighting in Florence requires time. Taking the time to breathe in the charms of the city fills me with joy. 

Life is about appreciating the time we have. Almost every day, I take a moment to commune with Florence. Uniting with Mother Nature, she permeates me with her love, embraces me with her energy, and delights me with unexpected sunsets, spectacular views, and bright blue skies at nightfall. Together they create magic; together spread love. 

What I love most about living in Florence is being able to commune with her as I run errands, stroll along the Arno, or visit the gardens. Every moment in Florence’s embrace is an opportunity to experience her beauty to the fullest.

Beauty seeps into my heart with a single breath every day when I am present with my surroundings. Over the past two weeks, I appreciated so many moments, like when the sun filtered through a window in the dome of San Frediano in Cestello, the Duomo appeared from beyond an olive grove, the Ponte Vecchio materialized through the arches below the Corridoio Vasariano, and the full moon glowed in the sky above and on top of the Arno. Each time that I breathed in Florence, she infused me with a sweet mix of emotions: tranquility, delight, and love.

Over the past couple of weeks, I enjoyed an unexpected sunset from Piazzale Michelangiolo, admired the fog settle upon the river from Ponte Santa Trinita, delighted in returning to the Giardino Bardini, basked in the blue hour from the Ponte Vecchio, and embraced Florence from the Giardino delle Rose.

Whenever I walk around my beloved city, I admire her with an open heart. To celebrate all the times I commune with Florence, I take a photo. In the last couple of weeks, I delighted in a rainbow and a seagull flying by, a sunset from Ponte Santa Trinita, a view of the downtown from the Giardino delle Rose, a glimpse of the twilight from Lungarno Vespucci, and a visit to the Giardino di Boboli. When I am present with Florence, my body relaxes and my breath slows down. Not only does her beauty become more intense, but her magic as well. Beholding Florence through my senses is how I receive her love and feel a sense of tranquility embrace me.

Before 2020 ended, I navigated the streets of my beloved city to absorb more of her charm and more of her energy. I delighted in Florence’s piazzas, bridges, holiday illuminations, and gardens. What I discovered was that magic happens in a moment: a peek through the arches on the Ponte Vecchio, a fascination with the moon above the Duomo, a pause along a busy street to take in Piazza Santa Croce, a glance at a single rose enhancing the panorama, or a stroll down the Arno after sunset. 

Living in Florence has taught me to experience beauty more reverently. Instead of perceiving beauty with my eyes, I take the time to absorb it through my senses. I commune with my beloved city by cherishing the details of her splendor, basking in her energy, and lavishing her with my love and appreciation. In these anecdotes, I gazed at the moon glowing above the Duomo, embraced autumn from Ponte San Niccolò, basked in the blue hour above the Ponte Vecchio, revered in the panorama from the scalinata alongside the Giardino delle Rose, and savored the sunset while standing on Ponte Santa Trinita.

As autumn is winding down, many of the trees are now bare, only a few roses remain, the sky grows dark by early afternoon, and the air is chilly for most of the day. I continue to visit the gardens to immerse myself in their beauty. The view of Florence surrounded by colorful roses infused me with tranquility.

It only takes one breath to tap into the beauty that surrounds us. Every time I did, beauty embraced me and filled my heart with tranquility and joy. Florence wrapped her arms around me and encouraged me to savor my surroundings even more. Basking in a moment with all of my senses reminds me that life is precious and that every moment is precious too.

Appreciating Florence is taking the time to bask in her splendor. Whether it’s watching a sunset, strolling along the Arno, traversing her piazzas, navigating her narrow streets, admiring her treasures, or traipsing through her gardens, Florence continually surprises and delights us. Along with Mother Nature’s magic—her light, her shadows, her clouds, her wind, and her seasons—Florence captures our hearts.

Over the past few weeks as I perused my beloved city, I experienced many sweet moments to immerse myself in the beauty offered to me. Sometimes I went to the gardens where I was certain to find beauty, but sometimes beauty found me like when I caught the sunset from Ponte alle Grazie.