Breathing the Art of Florence

Finding inspiration in the birthplace of the Renaissance.

by Kiera Dunlevy

Each Italian city and town I stepped foot in this past summer left a memorable page in the catalog of places I’ve visited - the grand ancient history of Rome, the charming hilly streets of Orvieto, the fresh pesto of Genova, and the unreal vistas of Cinque Terre. However, for me, no destination measured up to the artistic city of Florence.

I had always heard about Florence in school, learning about the innovations of Da Vinci and reading “Romeo and Juliet.” As I prepared for this trip, everyone I spoke to who had been to Italy gushed over this Tuscan city. With all the exciting noise surrounding the prospect of Florence, I cautiously anticipated my opportunity to experience it for myself. I was nervous that if I set my expectations too high, I would set myself up for disappointment.

However, even while disgracefully dragging our overstuffed luggage 20 minutes through narrow cobblestone sidewalks, I immediately knew I had not been misled regarding the magic of Florence. From the historic Florentine architecture to the fashionable locals walking the streets, it does not take long to sense the artistry that flows through the veins of this classic Italian city.

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, a critical period of rediscovery of classical art, literature, philosophy, and technological innovation that swept across Europe from the 14th to 17th century. Thanks to the city’s contribution to this substantial rebirth of culture and education, Florence is widely considered the art capital of Europe. There is no way to adequately describe the surreal feeling of strolling the same streets famed artists like Michelangelo and Donatello once walked and casually passing by enchanting, aged murals.

While I have loved art since I was a little kid, I believe even those not interested in stepping foot in a museum would find awe in the artistic ambiance of Florence. The city lives and breathes art - you can hardly walk down the street without taking it in in some form.

The few days I spent in Florence reignited my artistic aspirations. Although I love being a student in COM, it’s easy to frequently feel discouraged or sink into feelings of imposter syndrome as someone trying to enter a creative career path. Being in Florence reminded me of the importance of art and storytelling as something beyond having pieces to add to your portfolio. So much of our culture stems and is preserved through art. 

Although Florence is relatively small compared to other major cities in Europe, its rich history gives it a larger-than-life feeling. Beyond the city’s beauty and plentiful attractions, the mark that Florence left on my mind is a testament to the power of travel and the impact a place can have on a person.