Returning to Florence after 6 years, strolling through the Firenze in Xu Zhimo's writings

Unexpectedly, my return to Florence came six years later.
The "Firenze" in Xu Zhimo's writings is a transliteration of the Italian name Firenze. The Latin name for Florence, Florentia, means "flowering" 💐

🏛️ The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is definitely the most dazzling flower in this city of flowers! It is also the most mysterious and elegant place in romantic Firenze.

Every brick and tile here flows with the charm of the Renaissance, making it perfect for photos. But the downside is... it’s also very crowded.

We bought the Ghiberti pass (Adult: €15, Child: €5, European Student Card: €5), which allows free luggage storage until 7:30 PM. We originally planned to visit the cathedral, but the train was delayed and we missed the last entry time (3:30 PM), so we only visited the nearby Museo + Battistero.

🗿 About the David statue:
A word of caution ⚠️ The city of art is full of "David" replicas, and you can see them right in the nearby main square. For friends who are not art professionals, there’s no need to spend €15 to see the original. Personally, I think the replicas are great too!

🌉 The famous landmark Ponte Vecchio is near the main square:
This is also the filming location for Jay Chou’s "What Kind of Man"! Every time I come, the wind is super strong 😂 The wind near the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is already strong enough, but the old bridge can almost blow you away~

🌇 Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo:
Last time I came it was cloudy, and this time the clouds were too thick, so the sunset wasn’t very beautiful ☁️ But the street performers and concert atmosphere on the square were amazing, definitely worth a visit!

Strolling through this ancient and romantic city, it feels like you can hear the echoes of the Renaissance~ This is not only the Firenze in Xu Zhimo’s writings but also the distant place Wan Yu wants to reach three years later 💕

Post by Ariana_Collins28 | Aug 30, 2025