Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. When I got the opportunity to fly there, naturally, I jumped at the chance. With glorious food, handsome Italian men and stunning scenery to shoot – it’s the perfect setting for a female photographer, Flavour didn’t have to ask me to go twice.

Florence is a beautiful city, with breathtaking scenery, outstanding monuments and churches, and it’s the worst place to be during the credit crunch as it has some of the most-expensive designer shops in the world – ranging from Gucci to Fendi – and quality Italian fashion items like leather jackets and scarves which you won’t be able to resist.
Well, I couldn’t anyway; I ended up buying a bag, a jacket, and a scarf – okay I shopped till I dropped. I’m sure that you get the picture.

This city is world-renowned for its art and architectural heritage and has been tagged as ‘the cradle of Renaissance’ because of its monuments, churches and buildings. Some of our most amazing painters, artists, sculptures and architecture come from this region. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as ‘The Duomo’ – which I used as a landmark throughout my trip when trying to find my way back to my quaint hotel.

While most tourists were gathered in the main square, climbing the dome, exploring the museums and galleries or browsing the market and enjoying the weather, my interests lay elsewhere. I love to capture all the predictable beauty of any city I’m in, but what’s more important to me, is what makes the city what it is – the actual environment the tourist attractions are set in as well as its people and what they are surrounded by. This is what adds depth to the shots I love most from my trip.

I would love to go back and shoot the city at my leisure one day soon, and maybe next time I’ll meet an Italian stallion purely to show me the sights that I missed this time around.

Words and photography by Saira Awan