After too many days without much sunshine, I was happy when I saw the sun break through the clouds early this evening while I was working on my computer. We had some nevischio (sleet) and pioggia (rain) most of the day. Even though the temperatures are low enough for it to snow in Florence, I bundled myself up, grabbed my camera, and headed out the door.
I first walked along the Arno and toward the Ponte Vecchio where I thought I'd take some pictures. When I stood in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio, the arctic winds blew strongly and people near me were saying how cold it was and that they couldn't stand in the exposed area for long. I snapped a few pictures, but I realized that when I'm on the Ponte Vecchio, there's not much I want to take a photo of.
I wanted to walk up to the Piazzale Michelangiolo, but the sun was slowly disappearing and the temperatures were dropping.
I had called Alessandro earlier and told him that I'd like to go up to the Piazzale Michelangiolo, but because of the temperatures I'd likely end up on the Ponte Vecchio. While I was taking photos, he called me back and told me to meet him at the end of the Ponte Vecchio and he'll drive me up before the sun sets.
We got up to the parking lot and I ran out of the car so that I could take a few shots of the city before the sun set completely. I hadn't been up to see Florence at dusk before from the Piazzale Michelangiolo: only during the day and at night. The veduta (view) was spectacular with the street lights on, a few monuments like Palazzo Vecchio and the Duomo lit up, and the sun casting its final rays onto the city.
Behind the Duomo, are the Calvana hills which are topped with snow. I could've stood at the piazzale forever looking down upon my city if it weren't for the freezing gusts of wind that struck us every so often. Within a few minutes, the sun disappeared completely.
I was so happy to have been able to go up to the piazzale because I had wanted a photo of the Duomo with snow topped mountains in the background for a long time. I saw a TV news segment the last time it snowed on the surrounding hills and tourists were taking shots of the Duomo from the piazzale. So, I finally got to be at the Piazzale Michelangiolo at dusk and a great photo too!
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