Daily Life Articles

The Daily Life articles depict life as experienced in Florence by both expats and locals.

Appreciating Florence over Time

by Sophia Khan published on September 29, 2011

A tall, rusticated stone arch embedded in a palace's wall basks in the sunlight emitting a sense of antiquity. These were my first impressions of the backside of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence as seen from my studio apartment. A view revealed through tall windows set below a delightfully frescoed ceiling. What I slowly learned, however, was that while first impressions are often valid responses to places, they need time to develop into something more profound. So it was with my private view of Florence and the city itself.

[Read Full Article]

In the Seat of Abundance: Piazza della Repubblica

by Cheryl Tucker published on July 28, 2009

If you stay in Florence long enough, you'll find a piazza--one where you feel at home, one that you'll seek out after being away. On my first stay in Florence a few years ago, passing through the centrally located Piazza della Repubblica was part of my daily routine; I thought of it as a "throughway" piazza. The space is quite plain. Unlike Piazza della Signoria, you won't find ornate sculptures of David or Neptune, nor is it bordered by a beautiful Franciscan basilica like the one found in Piazza di Santa Croce. But, as often happens with rituals, I started to like passing through the square. After a couple of weeks, instead of racing through to reach one of the cafés on via Corso, or heading straight for via Calimala toward Ponte Vecchio, I'd stop and sit for a spell on the stone seat at the base of the piazza's only column.

[Read Full Article]

Sitting in Piazza della Signoria

by Lisa McGarry published on May 20, 2009

My natural inclination when I go to Piazza della Signoria is to find a spot somewhere around the edge and look into the middle of the piazza, which is like a big container for people and energy. Whether from under the loggia, the steps in front of Palazzo Vecchio, a table on Caffè Rivoire's patio or simply a free bit of curb, I like to watch the chaotic mixture of locals, visitors, children, dogs, horses and pigeons that doesn't change much from one day to another, but always entertains me.

[Read Full Article]

Moments in Piazza Santo Spirito

by Lisa McGarry published on February 20, 2009

I look back on my earlier visits to Piazza Santo Spirito with a mixture of affection and nostalgia. The first time I found myself here, tracking down an archive of drawings from a community project I had read about, I had no idea that it would become such a big part of my daily life. Or perhaps it is I who has become part of its life, its story? Each of us passing through the piazza, whether for a single afternoon or a lifetime of mornings, is contributing a new thread to its centuries-old tapestry.

[Read Full Article]

Shopping at Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio

by Melinda Gallo published on August 26, 2008

The Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio is an outdoor food market in a residential area of Florence near the Santa Croce church. Almost every morning of the week locals browse the bancarelle (stands) to see what produce is in season, look for the best deals, and buy food for their families. I love everything about the mercato: the voices of the merchants announcing their daily specials, the rustling of the customers making their way through the crowded aisles, the smells of the different items on display, and the colorful and appetizing presentations enticing us to look and -- hopefully -- buy.