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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
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.
by Melinda Gallo
During the past few weeks, small groups and families dined on restaurant terraces, people ambled through many of the piazzas and streets in the historical center, tourists visited museums and churches, and scenic spots attracted people to watch the sunset. August is a quiet month in Florence when many businesses close for a few weeks. It’s the time of year when people prefer beaches and mountains over cities. But this year many Europeans flocked to Florence, hoping to visit it with fewer crowds.
by Melinda Gallo
The past couple of weeks, I went out for early morning strolls through Florence and romps in the gardens. I was also fortunate to have caught a stunning sunset after a rainstorm. When I walk around Florence, I make a point of communing with her. It is during these moments when I am aware of my surroundings that I can enjoy the beauty more and capture unique moments. Rarely do I search for a unique view because it is always different when I am more present in the moment.
by Melinda Gallo
As I roam around Florence, I enjoy letting my heart lead me in different directions. When a sight appeals to me, I pause for a moment to bask in it. I become as quiet as possible and allow my senses to capture the details of my surroundings. My photos and anecdotes are the keepsakes of these precious moments. However, the most significant souvenirs of these moments are the impressions they leave in my heart.
by Melinda Gallo
Over the past few weeks, I hiked up to Piazzale Michelangiolo, strolled through the Giardino Bardini, visited Palazzo Pitti, caught a brilliant sunset from Lungarno Corsini, and delighted in seeing the moon alongside the Campanile. In my last post, I wrote about how Florence is an open museum, but also an open church. I don’t see Florence as a church in the religious sense, but as more of a sanctuary. A place where one finds respite and gains insight. Florence’s artwork, museums, bridges, gardens, river, and buildings inspire us to be present and see the beauty that is all around us. When we perceive the beauty at the center of every person, place, and thing, then we know love.
by Melinda Gallo