Photos taken by Avanee Dalmia (Brown University), Student Correspondent for CET Florence, Summer 2025
Climbing the Duomo
With CET, we climbed to the top of the Duomo, all 473 steps (exhausting, but worth it). It’s the highest point in Florence, and the view from the top of Brunelleschi’s dome offers a 360° panoramic view of the city.
On the way up, we passed through narrow staircases and hidden corridors in between the building’s double dome, and got closer to the ceiling frescoes than I could’ve ever imagined. Painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, the Last Judgment spans over 3,600 square meters. Up close, the figures are massive, and the scale really hits you when you’re just a few feet away rather than looking up from the cathedral floor.
Giardino delle Rose
One afternoon, we had a picnic at the Giardino delle Rose, a peaceful garden just below Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s filled with sculptures, roses, and great city views. We brought along some schiacciata, a Florentine staple.
Art All Around
In my Renaissance Art and Architecture class, we visited the Medici Chapel in Palazzo Medici-Ricciardi to study the frescoes depicting the powerful Medici family. The chapel’s interiors are a rich blend of art, politics, and architecture, with hidden connotations and double meanings in the animals, birds, and trees.
I’ve also been hunting down works by my favorite Florentine street artist, Blub, who places well-known figures underwater in scuba masks. His work pops up in unexpected corners around the city.
We wrapped up the week at the Bargello Museum, home to Donatello’s bronze David—one of the earliest free-standing nude sculptures since antiquity. Seeing it in person after reading about it in class brought a new appreciation for its historical importance, symbolism, and detail.
When you get to Piazza della Signoria, you cannot miss Palazzo Vecchio–the former town hall of Florence and one of the city’s most important historical landmarks. Built in the 13th century, it served as the seat of government for the Florentine Republic. Today, it’s both a museum and a functioning city hall, with grand rooms, frescoes by Vasari, and secret passages that reveal Florence’s political and artistic history.
With Summer Coming to an End…
Looking back, it seems as if the summer almost flew by. Come mi fai sognare literally translates to ‘how you make me dream’–it’s a line from one of my favorite Formula 1 race radio messages, and I think it sums up this city quite perfectly. I spent the last week ticking things off my Florence list, and these were a few:
I spent the evening looking at the skyline and the city lights from Piazzale Michelangelo–the most iconic viewpoint in Florence. It offers a panoramic view of the city and is definitely a must-visit. At the center of the square stands a replica of Michelangelo’s David, however, interestingly, unlike the one in Piazza della Signoria, this one is made in bronze.
Uffizi Gallery
We visited the renowned Uffizi Gallery in art history class. It houses some of the most famous artworks in the world, including Boticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, as well as paintings by Michalangelo, da Vinci, and Raphael. It was so interesting seeing everything I’ve learned about over the summer come together and inform my understanding of the works here.
Day Trip to Castiglioncello
My friends and I took a day trip to a nearby beach town called Castiglioncello. It was only an hour and a half away by train and the ocean was the best possible break from the Florence heat for the afternoon.
More Art & Souvenirs for Home
One of the most relaxing things I’ve done this summer is just sitting and really taking the city in–all the art, all the architecture. I took this photo one evening in Piazza della Signoria, where I sat and painted Palazzo Vecchio.
It was time to pick up souvenirs, and, living right by Piazza Santa Croce, I was pleasantly surprised by a market popping up on Sunday morning. The shopkeepers were lovely and kind enough to make me three pepper charm bracelets for my friends back home. They’re known to bring good luck, but only if you buy them for others!