Whenever I walk around my beloved city, I admire her with an open heart. To celebrate all the times I commune with Florence, I take a photo. In the last couple of weeks, I delighted in a rainbow and a seagull flying by, a sunset from Ponte Santa Trinita, a view of the downtown from the Giardino delle Rose, a glimpse of the twilight from Lungarno Vespucci, and a visit to the Giardino di Boboli. When I am present with Florence, my body relaxes and my breath slows down. Not only does her beauty become more intense, but her magic as well. Beholding Florence through my senses is how I receive her love and feel a sense of tranquility embrace me.

Before 2020 ended, I navigated the streets of my beloved city to absorb more of her charm and more of her energy. I delighted in Florence’s piazzas, bridges, holiday illuminations, and gardens. What I discovered was that magic happens in a moment: a peek through the arches on the Ponte Vecchio, a fascination with the moon above the Duomo, a pause along a busy street to take in Piazza Santa Croce, a glance at a single rose enhancing the panorama, or a stroll down the Arno after sunset.