After only being in Florence for a little while, it didn’t take me long to realize that this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen and the city has exceeded all my expectations. Pictures truly don’t do it justice. I was absolutely in awe after seeing the massive size and intricate design of the Duomo. Even the little cobblestone alleyways and streets that aren’t necessarily supposed to be considered “pretty” have a rustic charm to them. Florence just has such a unique atmosphere that’s difficult to put into the right words.

The first day, we arrived at our apartments, which are also amazing, and Brenna and I walked around the Duomo, just so elated to be there. We came across a gelato place, Eduardo’s, and stopped in to get a treat. We both loved it and for me, it was my favorite gelato so far. At night, we had dinner with the entire group and it was nice to spend time with everyone outside of class meetings. The pasta, meat, and dessert dishes were delicious. After our meal, a bunch of us walked down to the Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, and made a quick stop at the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica. The area was gorgeous, so we decided that we had to take a ride on the carousel to take everything in. We finally arrived at our destination at the bridge and I really cannot put into words the feelings that I was experiencing because the scenery was that breathtaking. The only word I can use to describe that feeling is magical and it’s definitely a memory I’ll never forget.

Every day since, I’ve continually been blown away by all Florence has to offer; I’m so happy we have three more days here to enjoy this incredible city.