Piazzale Michelangelo
In 1869, the Piazzale Michelangelo was designed by the famous Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi. Since then, it’s breathtaking view of the Arno Valley and the river that runs through it. This spot has been a famous tourist destination ever since, and one look at the place and you’ll realize why. The long climb up hill was probably the most stressful part of my trip to Florence, but it was the most worth it. I don’t think any trip to Firenze would be complete unless you had sat on these stone steps and gazed at the wonderful panoramic view with a crowd coming from different parts of the world.
My companion decided to go around on his own, so I enjoyed the view while chatting with a wonderful assistant director from Vienna who was on vacation for the weekend. She studied film, but decided a bit later in her career that she actually enjoyed theater more. I wasn’t able to take not of her name, and I wish I did because she was such a pleasant person to talk to.
The sun set pretty beautifully. I think we were quite lucky that the sky was so clear when we came. I loved how soft the natural light was. You couldn’t take a single photo that wasn’t beautiful lit that day, and it was probably every photographer’s dream. As an Asian who lives along the equator, having to wait until 9pm for a sunset was very odd and still not something I was used to even after almost a month in Europe. Suffice to say though, the sunset view of the Piazzale was something for the books. Stunning from virtually all angles, it was worth the wait.
It was freezing by the time night fell, and I had to buy a 5 Euro shawl to keep myself from dying since my body isn’t used to low temperatures. I would recommend going here on a cloudless, summer day. I also recommend that though the walk up is physically taxing, if you’re not in any hurry it’s actually a great way to explore the city.
I don’t think any trip to Florence would be complete without going here. Go with a loved one because the view is romantic, go with a friend who will keep you company while waiting for the sun to set, or go alone and be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to meet new people.
