Florence - Where Art and Life find Harmony

Another solo-trip, because why not?

Although Florence was crowded as it had always been, it didn't overwhelm me. Unlike Rome, where the architecture and the streets give me a sense of rigidity and concreteness, Florence takes a more artistic and soft approach. I visited Florence on rainy days, so the scene was even more romantic: chaotic yet calm, strange yet familiar.

Transportation

From Rome, I took a bus to Florence and arrived around 10:30 AM at Villa Costanza station. I bought the tram ticket at the ticket booth nearby and validated it on the tram. Remember to validate it; there are ticket checkers, and I saw two girls being fined because they didn’t realize they had to validate their tickets.

Getting around Florence is straightforward: all trains, bus, and metro tickets can be bought on an app (I believe it’s called AT). Transportation there is punctual, and Google Maps is a reliable guide, unlike in Rome. Given that Florence isn't a large city, walking on foot is a feasible option for visiting its main attractions.

Scene

I didn't have the enthusiasm to see the "real" David or "The Birth of Venus," so I didn't book tickets for those museums. However, if you wish to do so, remember to plan in advance and purchase the tickets online because they sell out quickly. For me, as a solo traveler who doesn't like to have a detailed plan, I just marked some open-access popular spots on Google Maps and connected the dots.

One highlight of the tourist attractions, as predictable as it may seem, is Santa Maria del Fiore - one of the biggest churches in the world. Being built around 500 years ago, the church struck me in awe: oh Lord, how can it be that massive and sophisticated?

Another memorable experience was me using up my willpower to get to the top of Michelangelo Hill to admire the whole city from above. Despite the heavy rain, it was fun and worth it.

Food

I don’t like Tuscany’s cuisine: it’s too meat-heavy. After a disappointing experience at a local vegan restaurant, I decided to take a break from Italian food. I chose for my dinner a Vietnamese restaurant, Com Saigon, located in the center of Florence, whose owner is an Italian. I ordered seafood rice, which was satisfactory but not exceptional.

The culinary highlight was a lunch at a Korean restaurant called Gangnam, where I literally wolfed down a delicious kimchi pancake and a hearty bowl of seafood noodles. The memory of those dishes still makes my mouth water :).

Life

The leather market in Florence was a chaotic experience, with less-than-friendly sellers. Other than that, Florence’s pace of life was quite slow in my opinion. People weren't rushing around, and street performers added a harmonious touch to the city's ambiance.

On the second day, I stumbled upon a park where the locals enjoyed their Sunday. The atmosphere was peaceful, with elderly people engaging in exercises, parents and children playing and strolling, and some young individuals walking their dogs. This serene side of the city contrasted with the hustle and bustle elsewhere. People were nice and happy. Things were beautiful and alive. I had a conversation with a lady whose dog is named after an Italian cartoon character - Momo. How cute! She answered my questions about Florence and suggested places to visit. It was a pleasure to talk to her.

Vietnamese bond

I was hosted by a Vietnamese family during my stay in Florence, something I didn't expect to be so pleasant. The home was cozy, the host was caring and understanding. I also made a new Vietnamese friend of the same age! Since I moved to Rome, especially after the terrible illness, I missed my home more than ever. And that’s also when I realized, a heartwarming connection to (nice) Vietnamese people, to my roots, was indeed worth appreciation.

My friend asked me why I spent two days in Florence, considering it's small enough for a day trip. Well, I just don't like rushing from one city to another; instead, I prefer observing the local life and engaging with the people there.

Living slowly to truly feel it, is my type of happiness.