A day in Florence

Florence, Italy

Golden Hour - Arno river bridge

The river sounds low against the stone, and warm light lies along the parapet. I look out over the water and stay a moment by the rail. Florence spreads along the River Arno, where centuries of Renaissance art meet terracotta rooftops and Tuscan cooking.

Golden Hour - Arno river bridge

A light breeze lifts my hair as I turn my head on the bridge. Warm stone smells faintly of the river under the late sun. The long corridors of the Galleria degli Uffizi overlook this same River Arno, and the rooms hold Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael in date order.

Golden Hour - Arno riverbank

Cobblestones feel uneven under my shoes as I move slowly along the bank in a green dress. The late light warms the stone beside the water. April and October bring comfortable temperatures, while June, July and August bring intense heat and long museum queues.

Golden Hour - Florentine square

My fingers find the gold necklace, and I pause in the square to set it straight. Late sun sits warm on my neck and on the pale stone. Florentines dress with smart, understated elegance, and fine leather, from gloves to fitted jackets, remains the signature of local craftsmen.

Golden Hour - Duomo piazza

Above me, the vast tiled dome of Santa Maria del Fiore rises over the piazza. I look up and feel the brightness on my face. Inside, the basilica is cool and cavernous, with stained glass and stone monuments, a quiet place out of the Tuscan sunshine.

Golden Hour - City viewpoint

Under my hands the old wall is rough and still warm. I rest there and look across the terracotta rooftops. Giotto's Bell Tower has four hundred and fourteen stone steps, and the top terrace looks over tiled roofs, historic plazas, and the surrounding hills.

Night - Florentine street

Stars fill the sky as the street turns cool. I head into the twilight along the stones. Schiacciata is Tuscan flatbread baked with olive oil and salt, crispy outside and soft inside, and street food shops sell it across the city.