I often refer to Florence as my beloved city, but she certainly doesn’t belong to me. Nor does she belong to anyone else or any group of people. She belongs to all of humanity. After having lived in Florence for almost 15 years, it pains me to see its decline. I don’t think it’s any one person’s fault, but definitely the fault of anyone who sees Florence as a commodity and not a treasure to be respected and honored. Florence has nurtured all of us and it’s time that we nurture her.

Whenever I walk through Giardino Bardini and Giardino delle Rose, down certain streets like via dell’Oriuolo or via dei Servi, in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio, or even along certain sections of the Arno, I’m always delighted when I spot the Duomo. I don’t make a point of searching for the Duomo, but when I see it, I can’t help but smile. Catching a glimpse of the Duomo, especially from afar, is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.