This is the Giardino Bardini, which is an Italian Renaissance garden in Florence that overlooks the entire city. I chose this garden because when I went to visit it with my family, we were truly in awe of its breathtaking panoramic view and its rich cultural significance. It's a special garden to me as it reminds me how blessed I am to be studying in a city like Florence, and to be able to experience something so beautiful with my family.

In 1994, NYU received Villa La Pietra in a bequest from Sir Harold Acton. This generous gift, including five villas and 37 acres of gardens, ensured that the intellectual, cultural and artistic life of Villa La Pietra would be shared with future generations of students, scholars, and the wider international community. The Villa serves as a rich resource for ongoing research in art history, conservation, and Italian history. The scenographic grounds of Villa la Pietra continue to inspire artists, writers, musicians, poets, actors and public intellectuals who are given time and space to nurture and hone their craft, experiment, collaborate across disciplines, and to create and present new works or the reinterpretation of classics.

Throughout my time in Florence, vintage stores have held a certain appeal and an essence that I have come to associate with the culture of Florence. This specific store is called C’est Chic, a rather ironic French name for its celebration of Italian art. While this business like most of its kind, carries the typical big commercial brands, its focus tends to lie in smaller local, more niche works of Italian artists. I came into the city expecting to be overwhelmed by a sole emphasis on generic luxury commodification but instead encountered a more intimate history behind Italian leather, shoes, clothes, etc. The vintage culture in Florence is unlike any other because its production is rooted in a deeper origin, exemplified by not only the owners’ connection with each piece but concurrently the diverse people around the world it attracts. The art behind curating, preserving and displaying vintage collections in Florence is particularly well-captivated in C'est Chic—garnering a regular clientele and sparking frequent new attention. (Anoosha Reddy)

The Artemio Franchi stadium is home to ACF Fiorentina, the premier football club in Florence. It was named after the former president of the Italian Football Federation, Artemio Franchi. Known as the Viola’s, many legendary players have adorned the team shirt such as Stevan Jovetić and David de Gea. I selected the stadium because I felt most connected with the city. During football matches, there are no words to describe the love that is expressed for the team and city. Football brings people together, no matter their background. I felt like I belonged with everyone, as I sat waving my purple scarf in the packed stands. (Keshav Mody)

Il Conventino is a very pretty and homely feeling cafe, garden, and set of artists studios in an old convent. They host events of different kinds in their garden/courtyard and have food and drinks in their cafe. I went here on a rainy day with my friend Genna to go to a market, which didn't happen because of the rain, so we spent the day in the cafe talking surrounded by local people and hanging about the studios and courtyard. It is a very pleasant feeling place where you dont have to spend lots of money to just be, which I find valuable.- Cecilia

This is a great foundation that runs a free art studio and free live model drawing space several hours a week on a volunteer basis. They have free materials and canvases, and teachers to assist you if you need help with your work. It is bustling with many people that regularly visit and work on their pieces. https://artwithlovefoundation.com/ - Cecilia

Unique and interesting hair salon. I had my hair cut here twice because the guy is just so passionate about cutting hair and has great music. It's also super close to my homestay so it is nice to feel more participating in the community surrounding where I'm living and occasionally wave to the guy that cut my hair. -Cecilia

The Ponte Santa Trinita is one of the oldest bridges built in Florence, and the first bridge that I personally visited in Florence. It was where my first group of friends here sat and watched the sunset for many times throughout the semester, listening to music from musicians playing in nearby streets. It was my first true tie to Florence. -Aaron

Walking around Florence, one may or may not notice the several drinking fountains. This is one that, while in a particularly crowded area, I have always felt drawn to because it feels like a hidden gem that you might miss even if it's hidden in plain sight. The tourists, for the most part, do not recognize that this is not just a fountain, but a drinkable one, which makes it more of a local custom to drink or refill water bottles with it. A travel book is most likely not going to ever include this, or any other, drinking fountains, making them a contrast to mass tourism. - Victoria Cojab

[Polly Chen]If I had to choose, I would pick the Roman Theatre in Fiesole. What sets it apart from many of Florence’s other attractions is its tranquility and lack of crowds. It doesn’t have the vast collections and artwork of the Uffizi Gallery, the grandeur of David at the Accademia Gallery, or the picturesque river views of the Ponte Vecchio. Instead, its uniqueness lies in its quietness and solitude.

It’s not a heavily advertised or popular destination. When my dad and I visited, it was by chance during a walk. We bought tickets and went inside, where we found only about ten visitors scattered across the site. This emptiness and openness created a specific atmosphere. The scattered marble, moss-covered stones, and the countryside breeze (carrying earthy and grassy scents) told the story of this place. The ruins of this ancient Roman theatre seemed to whisper its own history to me.

It left the deepest impression on me, not just in Florence, but in all of Italy. There were no throngs of tourists, no selfie sticks, no merchants standing nearby, no endless streams of traffic, just the ruins themselves: quiet, solitary, and solemn.

My dad and I sat there quietly for nearly an hour, gazing at the distant mountains and the irregular little houses set on their slopes, seated amidst a field of marble. It felt so authentic, so true to history. I walked down to the lower levels and spoke softly, yet my father could still hear me because of the unique acoustic design: untouched by over-tourism.

It truly resonated with what I’ve read before about the allure of ruins. They provoke a sense of sorrow, a solemn reverence, for the passage of time. “It speaks to us of the beauty that once was and how it was swept away by the winds of time. Indeed, the key word here is ravages. The ruins speak to us of ancient empires and eclipsed powers.”

I thought of many places, but in the end, I chose the simplest one—the train station. I imagine even tourists from the farthest corners of the world would know of this station, but for me, it holds a special meaning because it is a place I visit every week. The first time I boarded a train there was during my first weekend in Florence, heading to Milan. I can still vividly recall the stories behind every arrival and departure. My life in Florence had unconsciously centered around the station. After school, I would visit the station not only to board trains but also to buy food, clothes, and even souvenirs. On countless weekends, I stopped by to catch a train and grabbed a panini for breakfast on the way. Just as Villa Natalia captures my entire school life, this station records the chapters of my life beyond campus.
In the final scenes of a movie, the protagonist often bids a heartfelt farewell to the places they once called home. But in reality, when I left Santa Maria Novella for the last time from Milan, I left in silence. Since 1848, countless others have departed just as quietly, and I am merely one of them.---Ellie Li

Culture Context Florence Fall 2025

11 ECHOES

DOWNLOAD OUR APP TO DISCOVER THIS TOUR AND MANY OTHERS.

The Echoes

Villa La Pietra

Vintage Store in Oltrarno

Stadio Artemio Franchi

Il Conventino

Art With Love Foundation

Discover more geolocated content in our apps.

Are you a creator?

Get in touch

Echoes creative apps

Echoes labs

About us