By Rachel Currie

The day was heralded by the ringing bells of Florence, signalling me to rise and begin my day of studies. However, this was July and classes at the University of Edinburgh were now a fading memory but not for the students of Florence. The summer exam season was well underway, and I was immersed in it. By now the summer heat is beating down upon the city streets and its haze engulfing the rooftops which hang over the city’s ringing bells as they announce the new day. Florence’s iconic cathedral, the Duomo di Firenze, establishes itself as the noble backdrop of this wonderful Tuscan city, a view which I could never grow tired of.

I prepared for the day with my 15-minute walk to university in front of me. Although this was no ordinary walk, from Santa Croce to Santissima Annunziata, I passed through Florence’s legendary streets radiating with art and beauty. Of course, this Italian summer was a sweltering one with a heat so intense I was compelled to make a pit stop in one of Florence’s many cafés to enjoy a cold granita! As I arrived at university my drink is almost finished, luckily as it is now only melted ice at the bottom of the cup. I enter the Plesso Capponi building to undertake my exam. As I sat in the classroom awaiting my assessment I took in the grandeur of the 19th century structure. Who would not be inspired! The time came for me to sit my exam, a conversation consisting of the course content, an examination style which I had never undertaken back in Edinburgh.

Finally, the exam ends, and I am free to resume my exploration of the city. I opted to take a long walk back home to unwind and savour my final days in such a wondrous city. Visiting the library named the Biblioteca delle Oblate, I reflected on my days spent studying there with the view of the grand Florentine Duomo serving as my inspiration. Next, I headed through the historic centre to the Ponte Vecchio, navigating my way through the perpetual swarms of tourists. It’s no surprise that this magnetic wonder entices visitors from all corners of the globe. Passing sites from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Uffizi, I eventually reached the calm waters of the Arno River.

A tranquil evening prevailed as I sat riverside watching the flows of people pour over the historical bridge, a medieval architectural masterpiece. I had watched the city transform through the seasons from my arrival in late winter to my departure in the height of summer. Distant were the cold and drizzly days wrapped up in my winter coat, I now observed the once-unknown city with a warm sense of familiarity. The winding streets were once a maze, now a detailed map ingrained in my mind, one which I will never forget. Although saddened to depart, I am grateful for this unique opportunity that so few are blessed with.