Italy Precursor: Florence Fave

Better late than never.

Volume 2 of these brief stops along the Italian Planes Trains & Automobiles Tour comes on the eve of our leaving yet another destination (more to come). It’s difficult to find the time to manage the volumes of photos while also enjoying all that this wonderful country has to offer and avoid neglecting my family. And in the heart of Italian wine country there are bigger fish to fry, but I digress.

I’ve been pleased with a number of frames throughout our too-brief stay in Firenze and had a number of potentials for this writing to choose from. In the end it was these examples of street art that seemed to represent the vibe of Florence. Every day, incredibly talented artists labour to create these works while thousands of tourists mill around them mostly oblivious. Their canvas? The stone street. Their weapon of choice is coloured chalk.

Starting in the morning and working well into the evening these folks craft these massive works – measuring probably larger than 6×10 feet – from a small letter sized reference. These sections are actually designated by thin brass rails inlayed into the street. Bowls or hats occupy each corner of the work in the hopes of a few Euro from the passing throngs.

And early every morning they are washed away.

Everywhere in Florence are nods to the Renaissance period which I wish I understood. Sculpture, paintings, architecture, galleries, museums, monuments, T-Shirts. Everywhere. With a local culture that is absorbed by it and also the spirit of creation and enjoyment. That may be as simple as a perfect Espresso, a fine dinner in one of the many alley bistros, and even graffiti on the walls. There’s also a fair amount of grit that one would expect in a city of this size with such a massive movement of people throughout.

Quite a temporal contrast to the efforts required to preserve and restore all of the history throughout this city.