Take a walk with me into town, a gentle stroll on a sunny winter's day
- salli443
- Feb 16
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 17
I'm headed to town and would love to share a few observations with you in this blog. Especially as we’re fortunate enough to live in the hills of Florence, nestled among olive groves, grapevines, farmlands, and wild boar territory, just a short 25-minute walk from the city centre, where we can switch to city life all of a sudden. From country to city via the huge Porta Romana entrance.
Daisy dog is also coming on this stroll into town, where she can soak in the fresh scents and the lively hustle of bustling Firenze - as she loves to do, enjoying the vibrant mix of energy in the markets, colourful street bars, shops, restaurants, and busy bridges that make the city so unique. However, Daisy tends to pause often to sniff street corners, pavements and lampposts, and being the conscientious dog owner that I am, I allow her a good snuffle so she can happily interact with her canine world and get the most out of her walk.
First things first though, on arrival in the centre I bought a mandatory cappuccino and tiramisu gelato from the new Venchi store, as well as a cheeky bag of cioccolato to take home and savour later when binge watching 'Digging for Britain' with the brilliant Dr Alice Roberts, tonight. I deserve a little pleasure as I was cleaning the streets of Florence for hours last Thursday, with the brilliant team at Angeli del Bello
My litter picking job was mainly around the Gasometro area, which is rich in history and culture and named after the large gasometers that once dotted the area. It was historically a centre of industrial activity but over time, the old gas works have given way to urban renewal, with contemporary developments and cultural spaces springing up alongside the remnants of the past.
Santa Rosa, a neighbouring area, is known for its charming, residential feel and historic significance too, with the Church of Santa Rosa offering a focal point for the community. Together, these two areas encapsulate Florence's ability to merge its medieval and Renaissance grandeur with modern life, fostering an eclectic mix of art, history, and local culture that draws both residents and visitors into the streets on lovely days like today. The juxtaposition of old and new provides a unique insight into the city's evolution, where the past and present coexist in harmonious contrast. It's why I support Angeli del Bello, to help preserve the beauty in these areas (as well as the Giardino dell'Orticoltura on a different day) – to keep them clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.
When sporting my orange hi-viz jacket it makes me feel very much part of the team, and on doing the rounds it's clear that there are far too many smokers in and around Florence! 'Cicca' pronounced 'Cheeka', means 'cigarette butt'. I'll do a blog post when more established in the group, but it is certainly a great way for me to mix with locals and learn the language, particularly the Florentine vernacular, whilst they practice their English on me. Having said that, some of the team are from other countries too, such as Australia, Austria and the USA. It's a very diverse, friendly and inclusive agency.
Me enjoying my sweet gains from the new Venchi gelateria branch in town🍦
When walking along the streets of Florence, you have to be careful if you have your dog on or off the lead, as the roads near our house are single track with high stone walls and the ones in the older part of town have some very thin pavements to negotiate. In fact, this invites a lot of beeping and much impatience when drivers don't agree on who has to reverse out of the way. Recently I saw a biker having a stand off with a van, and the poor van driver had to reverse right down the road to pull in and let the motorbike pass. Ridicolo! It makes dog walking quite dangerous, as you sometimes have to literally flatten yourself and dog to the cold grey stone walls when the bigger vehicles pass, or quickly step into gutters or muddy verges, for safety when they bomb round blind corners at 30KPH.
If only there was a safe path that took us into town, that would be good. Naturally, most drivers are patient, nevertheless, don't assume you'll be let through at any point, as there is no consistency to road etiquette here and 'right of way' does not exist. It is more about survival of the fittest and or bravest.
Apparently, I've learnt that the thin roads are a reflection of the city's medieval urban design, which prioritised defence and practicality over modern traffic flow. The walls, built from local stone, were historically part of defensive structures or private properties, and the narrow streets helped control movement, offering security and a sense of intimacy in a densely packed urban environment.
Over time, Florence's historical development kept many of these elements intact, maintaining the charm and character of the city as it evolved, with the roadways reflecting the medieval need for fortification and the architectural aesthetics of the time. I also found out yesterday that apparently satellites are snapping pictures of developments in the area to make sure that the confines of planning applications are adhered to and the footprint of houses is not growing unlawfully... Big bro' (fratello maggiore) is watching you.
Here is lively footage from our pootle into town earlier today – a great vibe.
On my way down from the hills on the fringes of town, I pass lots of shrines on the walls of the roads, paying reverence to Jesus and many featuring the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus in her arms. This very special one below is just down our road, and appears to be an old painting kept in an excellent condition behind perplex. The 'Fleur de Lys' symbol of Florence is featured everywhere too of course.
These roadside shrines, often in the form of small chapels, altars, or paintings, reflect the city’s strong Catholic heritage and the significant role of religion in daily life. Florence, like much of Italy, has historically viewed these displays as a means of seeking divine protection, especially during times of crisis such as plagues, wars, or personal hardships. The practice also serves as a public expression of devotion, where residents and passersby can offer prayers, find comfort and reaffirm their spiritual connection to the divine. Over time, these tributes have become an integral part of the urban landscape, symbolising the city's devotion and the enduring influence of Catholicism on its identity. Many of our neighbours put flowers on the small ledges below the reliefs and shrines.
Meanwhile, Daisy and I sat down in the market to enjoy gelato and take in the sights and sounds.
Besides, I was busy eyeing-up the homemade goodies at the market, for example; bottled passata, olives, pickled veggies, tabasco, spices, jams and a variety of different types of honey, bees wax candles (definitely want some bees wax candles since reading about how some candles cause endocrine disruption) and the ceramics, jewellery stalls, antiques and vintage clothes, amongst many other items, but rather inconveniently I didn't have any cash on me and a lot of stall owners will not take card payment, though some do.
I was also distracted by how many people were wearing fur, thick leather or heavy woollen coats in this beautiful sunshine! I'm such a nordic stereotypical Northwestern European, sweating away in the heat and often walking in a summer blouse when the natives are clad in winter woollies. On top of that, I struggle to spot badly dressed people here... It's truly incredible how 'well turned out' the locals are, and puts us (lazy dressers like me) to shame. I must stress that I am not a fur advocate myself, but shall save you the rant this time, although I must make more of an effort with my style and put it down to being "kiddy-worn" as an exhausted mum of three. A pathetic excuse given the size of families here!
A lot of the boutique shops are closed on Sundays, so this photo of the delicatessen yummies was taken through the shutters in a shop on my way to Porta Romana which è la porta più a sud delle mura di Firenze. There is also a very good gelato shop there too. A tip: the best gelato is kept out of sight in steel tubs with lids and not the open eye-candy piled high colourful stuff which is full of chemicals and other nasties, and is best avoided.
Cast your eyes on these cheese truckles for now, vacuum wrapped goodies: -
Aside from regularly buying lots of cheese, let's get back to road safety: Being a foreigner living in Italy, for safety reasons, I tend to look both ways before stepping into the road. The traffic lights here are thankfully installed on most busy crossings, with many smaller lanes without lights to control pedestrians and seemingly reliant on you actually stepping into the crossing if you wish for the traffic to stop! Generally, if you stand and wait for traffic to stop for you to cross, you may be there for a while. Being British we realised that we were very polite by comparison to most drivers, but it all seems to work well, it's just feels more edgy and you have to take that leap of faith for cars to stop for you, nevertheless I am generalising!
Weaving my way around town with Daisy today was a pleasure, especially in the historical centre where the buildings have so much character, with many stories attached dating back to Etruscan and Roman Italy and earlier, as well as the latter day infamous Medici family and its elitist heirs. I do like to spot the coats of arms, of which I have lost count as there are so many here.
Meanwhile on the sleepy back roads, here is another vintage car full of character, with netting and battered seats inside:
The big gate in the Gasometro and Santa Rosa locality of Florence:
Stunning architecture and even with the British TV series Digging for Britain there is a fair share of Roman archaeology and architectural remains in many of the episodes. Equally, I think that in Florence, this being the capital of Tuscany, the echoes of Roman power and ingenuity are still evident in the urban layout, architecture, and language. Streets and monuments from the Roman era are woven into the fabric of the city, offering a living testament to the legacy that shaped not only the city but much of Western civilisation. The archaeological discoveries in Britain and the enduring presence of Roman influence in Florence create a fascinating connection across time, showing how the empire's reach still resonates today, with people like me still curious as to how people lived back in the day, and intrigued with the differences in this culture and that of the UK, with both being heavily influenced by historical Roman occupation.
However, I love that I can indulge in and explore the Italian culture, yet still (sometimes) access British TV in the evenings! I will eventually get a good handle on the Italian language, though anything done well takes time and I've probably got many thousands of cigarette butts to pick up and dispose of with the Angeli del Bello team before my fluency even starts to take hold. At least the Italian team members can practice their English on me in the meantime. I did go for a well-earned Aperol Spritz with one lovely colleague (called Rachel from Australia), after our last shift. We spoke about life in Florence and the beauty of it all, with the hundreds of abandoned ciccas filling our bin bags being the exception!
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