Exploring Florence – Finding Florence

Runseeing in Florence

Written by: Maya Echols-Albrecht

As a study abroad student, I am constantly trying to make the most of my time abroad. Taking advantage of the cheap flights to other countries and spur of the moment decisions truly make studying abroad a once in a lifetime experience. One thing I did not prepare myself for however, was taking time to explore Florence, the city I live and study in. This is when I decided to pick back up an old hobby of mine: running.

I quickly started doing research on some good places to run in and outside of the city, figuring this could be an amazing opportunity for me to truly experience all of Florence. I still vividly remember my first run up to Piazzale Michelangelo, exploring the wooded trails and more residential areas of Florence which I never would have seen if I hadn’t gone on a run. This is when I knew I should start regularly running here.

I found a blog that highlights various running routes in Florence, ranging from scenic paths along the Arno River to challenging trails in the surrounding hills. The blog also provides tips for runners, such as where to find water fountains or restrooms along the routes, and suggests the best times of day to avoid crowds and traffic.

As I continued exploring Florence through running, I discovered hidden gems like the Boboli Gardens, a vast park filled with statues, fountains, and winding paths perfect for a leisurely jog. I also stumbled upon local parks and squares where I could join in on group runs or yoga sessions organized by the community.

Not only has running allowed me to stay active and maintain my fitness while abroad, but it has also deepened my connection to Florence. Each run feels like a mini adventure, as I uncover new sights, smells, and sounds of this beautiful city. It’s amazing how something as simple as lacing up my running shoes can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary experience.

Documenting Strangers

By Chrystalla Christodoulou

Have you ever pondered on how you navigate the cities you inhabit or visit? In this piece I discuss a change in mediums I made in order to find my place in Florence’s streets.

Everything I love about art came from my introduction to photography. It made me appreciate the human body as poetry, with secrets being exchanged between subject and audience. My own camera has helped me turn moments of joy, doubt, and vulnerability into art.

However, when travelling, photography becomes a game for me; it gives me adrenaline and pushes me around. I didn’t want to remember my time in Florence as a rushed hunt.

So I bought a sketchbook.

Drawing pulls me to the ground. It slows me down, and makes me choose one single atom of this vivid city to analyse.

When someone realises I’m drawing them, they are usually amused. Vastly different from the angered looks I get as a photographer; I am seen as harmless when sketching. They sometimes accentuate their pose, or even ask to see themselves.

I sit on the steps of Palazzo Vecchio and observe a couple presumably travelling together. They are discussing the David, as tourists and residents alike rush by them. In that moment, they are still unaware of me so I take my time in documenting her hat and his ponytail.

When I look back at the drawing I remember waiting for my friend, knowing she’ll be mad because of my dead phone. I remember the man trying to make his companion laugh, and her looking away. I know exactly what song I was listening to, playing from a stranger’s phone. A new favourite.

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Seizing the Florentine Moment

Facade of the Basilicata di Santa Croce — Examining the detail of the Santa Croce church, photo by Morgan O’Reilly

By Morgan O’Reilly

It’s 8:30 on a February morning as I swiftly dodge bikes and local pedestrians on my way to class. The damp chill of Florentine air jostles my bones as my tired eyes stare downwards at the passing cobblestone. The frigid gust of wind and the loom of tardiness pick up my weary feet and hurl them toward the next stone, until suddenly a crack on the sidewalk catches my foot and I trip. Only then do I look up from my monotonous routine and spot a little, hidden bakery; a woman laughing with her daughter; the incredible detail on the Santa Croce archways; and a side of Florence I had neglected to notice.

Falling into a routine comes naturally when settling in Florence: you find the quickest routes, the cheap panini places, and a couple go-to evening spots. Although finding some favorite places will help with your acclimation to the new environment, it is also important to keep exploring the city and appreciating new sights each day. Yes, many weekends will be spent crossing off travel bucket lists, but weekends should also lend themselves to new Florentine discoveries. The city cannot be fully appreciated in one, momentous layer. It opens itself up to its guest every day; tripping and confusing its inhabitants and then strategically placing a hidden gem right in their winding paths

Finding a new sight a day, or moreover, appreciating a new sight a day, can transform the city from a world renowned bustle to a personalized home. Form a realistic plan of things you want to see, do and eat, and try to knock off a few each week. Reach out to your professors and locals for their recommendations. Even on your walk back from class, pay extra attention to the detail on the Duomo; the finely cured meats at your favorite panini spot; the muffled italian chatter in the Oblate Library; veins on statues; love locks on fences; foam on your cappuccino. Explore the Uffizi over and over again, visit Oltrarno’s gardens, grottos, and local eateries, and find those special details and locations you would have overlooked if you hadn’t payed active attention.

The simple act of opening one’s senses to new discoveries can not only act as a mantra for an immensely enriching Florentine experience, it also lends itself to a life of new discovery and appreciation. Begin to notice, to see the overlooked, and to experience the little moments that make Florence so unprecedented.

See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.