For the past 15 years, Firenze has never let go of my attention. This city has everything. If Renaissance art is your thing, roughly 85% of it lives right here. Add the food, the architecture, the art—and being fully surrounded by the language—and my heart is very, very happy.

If you’re on a quest to learn Italian, this is the place. Most language schools are here for a reason. Italy came together late (1871), and with so many regional dialects, Florence became the cultural and linguistic anchor that helped unify the country. Learning Italian remains one of my proudest accomplishments—it’s opened doors I never even knew existed.

I know Firenze as well as I know San Francisco, yet it still surprises me. New corners, new moments, subtle changes as time moves on. Firenze has my heart—and my deep admiration.