ARCH ECHO

Tag: italy

  • Una Vita Non Basta: FIRENZE

    Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

    As I continue my journey through Italy, my next stop was Firenze. Leaving the train station, I was greeted by the echoes of the renaissance. Florence is a living piece of art. One of the most important pieces of architecture in Firenze is the Duomo. I was in true awe and shock when I first saw it, it stood tall with its intricate facade. It was like a painting, and Brunelleschi sure left his mark on the city. During the 4 days I spent in the city, I attended the 6pm mass every day. The sacred feel of the interior with its high ceilings and pristine details were unforgettable. I felt an emotional and personal experience every time. 

    One of the most memorable moments I had in Firenze was a cooking class I took with a local woman, that had the most beautiful kitchen space that overlooked all of Firenze. She was older, very knowledgeable and passionate about cooking. Her passion was evident, teaching me the art of creating from scratch. Beauty lies within the care and tradition of each dish.  

    Clet Abraham

    Throughout the streets of Firenze, if you take a second to pay attention, you will notice these simple traffic signs with clever subversions all across the city. These belong to the artist Clet Abraham. My Italian tutor Gianluca was the one that first introduced me to his work, and I have been a fan ever since. Clet’s work is a modern disruption in a city of order and renaissance, and goes to show that even within serious architecture, there is room for humor.  

    The Statue of David

    As my time in Firenze came to an end, its beautiful art and architecture left a lasting mark on me. The statue of David, The Birth of Venus, and so much more to admire. A city where art and history come together. Alla prossima volta, Firenze! 

  • Una Vita Non Basta: ROMA

    Giardino degli Aranci

    In December, I set off on a 3-week solo trip to Europe, not knowing exactly what I was searching for—but hoping to find it anyway. I wandered through streets, experienced Mass in some of the most beautiful churches in the world, and through the architecture, I felt a quiet connection to the past. I was reminded how much beauty there is in both permanence and change. 

    Giardino degli Aranci

    My first stop was Rome. The second I stepped foot in the city, I felt an instant connection. I remember calling my mom and telling her I wanted to live there—and I had only been in Rome for about two hours at that point. There is just something about Rome. I felt like the city knew me before I got to know it.  I explored the city on a vespa with a local I had met, his name was Valerio. Valerio took me to see some of the most breathtaking architecture I had ever laid eyes on. The Pantheon, its engineering and design left me in awe, with its dome and the oculus letting in a soft line of light that seemed to breathe life. The Colosseum, still standing, was a reminder of strength in survival. Walking through plazas made me feel as if I was walking through paintings. 

    Sandro Fiorentini

    But Rome wasn’t just about the architecture, it was also about the people. I stumbled across a shop while I was looking for a place to eat and met Sandro Fiorentini. Sandro is an architect and currently owns La Bottega del Marmorato, a family treasure. He took over the shop after his father, who opened the shop in the 60’s. Here, he hand-carves marble pieces, does custom inscriptions, and even make statues. In Sandro’s eyes, I saw not just the determination of an architect, but also a deep respect for the art around us, if we take the time to notice.  

    Among the many carved marble inscriptions I saw, one stuck out to me. I read the phrase “Una vita non basta.” These words lingered in my thoughts for a while after, as if I was carrying a heavy weight. In this phrase, I understood the yearning for more than what time can offer. A yearning for experiences too immense to be contained within a single life, and moments that slip through our fingers. Una vita non basta—one life is never enough, and in that, I felt a sense of both sadness and happiness, with a side of guilt, and a bittersweet truth that love and life cannot be confined within the boundaries of a single lifetime. 

    Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva

    Todos los caminos te llevan a Roma, and I wouldn’t mind visiting a thousand more times.