Rome via Brooklyn

Word Count: 484

For my first free weekend in Italy, I decided to explore the north of the country. My first stop was Florence. I had always heard people compare Florence and Rome like they’re sisters, so I wanted to see for myself which one I liked better.

My high-speed train was leaving at 7:15 p.m., and I got to the station thinking I had plenty of time. Well… I definitely underestimated how huge the train station was. There were trains constantly coming and going, and I was running around trying to figure out which platform I was supposed to be on. By the time I finally found my seat, it was 7:10 p.m. The second the clock hit 7:15, the doors shut, and that’s when I realized something very important, European trains absolutely do not wait for anyone. Safe to say, I learned my lesson and made sure to get to every train station much earlier after that.

By the time I arrived in Florence, it was already pretty late, but I wasn’t ready to call it a night just yet. I found a little gelato shop that was still open and ordered banana pudding flavored gelato in a cone. To this day, it is still my favorite gelato I had in all of Italy. It was the perfect way to end the night before heading back to get some rest.

The next morning, I spent my time walking around the neighborhood, and one thing became very obvious which was that Pinocchio was everywhere. I saw souvenirs, artwork, statues, and little references throughout the city. A local explained to me that Florence is the birthplace of Carlo Lorenzini, better known by his pen name Carlo Collodi, the author of Pinocchio. I thought that was so cool because Pinocchio is one of those classic stories I remember learning about growing up in elementary school.

As I continued exploring, I walked past the Duomo again. The night before, when I first arrived, it honestly looked a little creepy towering over the quiet streets in the dark. Seeing it again in the daylight completely changed my perspective. The details of the marble, the size of the cathedral, and all the people gathered around it made me appreciate just how beautiful it really is.

Out of all the cities I visited during my study abroad, Florence completely stole my heart. It had a slower, more peaceful atmosphere than Rome while still feeling full of history and life. I also ended up doing the majority of my shopping there because they are known for their leather. I can definitely understand now why people compare Florence and Rome. They’re both beautiful in their own ways, but if I had to choose, Florence would easily be my favorite city in Italy. It’s one of those places I know I’ll be thinking about long after this trip is over.