June 11, 2022 • 63

LAPC #203: Local Vistas

What are your local vistas? Where do you photograph when you don’t have a lot of time or are not on vacation? What about your hometown excites you? Is it the countryside, city, gardens, amusement venues? This week, tell and show us your local vistas–Anne Sandler, Slow Shutter Speed

This week, Anne has challenged us to share the places in our neighborhood that excite us, make us happy, and/or provide great photo opportunities. Be sure to visit her site to see her beautiful favorites in Sacramento.

As for me, right now I don’t have a home, so I’m going to share some favorite places where we’re staying now. Many of you know how I’ve fallen in love with Florence. So, let me share some special places in the city that inspire and excite me. (Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

Tourists often go on a whirlwind tour of Florence, visiting the top-rated places in several days–including the palaces, museums and cathedrals decorated with spectacular works of art. My favorites may be familiar to some of you, but I’ll include others that are off the beaten track.

The Basilica of Santa Croce is famous, but I decided to take a slightly different view of Dante who is immortalized there. If you look closely, you’ll see a bird coming in for a landing on Dante’s illustrious head.

A lesser-known spot in Florence is the Giardino delle Rose, with spectacular views of the city. You’ll see many locals stretched out on the grass, eating picnic lunches, and walking around the beautiful rose garden. The famous Florence skyline in the distance makes this one of my favorite inspirational spots.

In the summer, the city parks are turned into recreational areas to eat, drink, relax, and socialize. This year, one section was turned into “Cuba”–complete with places to buy mojitos, dance the rumba, or stretch out on lounge chairs near the Arno. If you look closely you can see the palm trees there were added to create a “tropical” scene. This area along the Arno is one of our favorite spots in the city.

We’re staying in the neighborhood of Santa Croce at the edge of the historic district. In this photo you can see a remnant of the fortified wall in Piazza Beccaria that once surrounded the entire city. The buildings that surround the square are over a hundred years old and tell a wonderful story of this grand and beautiful city.

I’ll end my post with a view down Borgo La Croce, the main pedestrian thoroughfare that connects Santa Croce to the main part of town. At night the restaurants and bars along the Borgo “spill out” into the street. I love the atmosphere here, where the sense of community is so strong and the art of eating, drinking, and visiting with friends is a treasured part of the local culture.

I hope you enjoyed my tour of Florence and Santa Croce–which stole my heart and has become my home. We hope you join us this week and share your local vistas. Be sure to link your post to Anne’s site.

Last week, Sofia lead us into an exploration of minimalism and maximalism. What a treat! Many of us discovered our personal preferences for one or the other, but some people enjoying using both. Next week, we have a special guest host–Sylvia Bacon, who will lead LAPC #204, so be sure to visit her site. Until then, have a safe and inspiring week, whether you’re close to home or on the road.

Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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63 replies »

  4. I love seeing Florence through your eyes. As you know, we love experiencing real life when we travel and I love that you captured that here, Patti. The pedestrian thoroughfare looks so inviting and a great place for people watching as well as some casual night life and good food. My favorite photo though is the one of the rec area along the Arno. The Italians are the masters at loving/living life, aren’t. Not a bad place to land while “homeless”. Very nice. Donna

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    • HI, Donna. Yes, we are very fortunate to be here. I don’t take that for granted…ever! The rec area changes every year. We’re enjoying “Cuba,” but even better…our favorite pizzeria opened up an outdoor restaurant nearby. What more could we want?? 😀😀. Take care and enjoy the day.

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    • Hi, Margaret. Time does fly, doesn’t it? But some things stay the same…like many parts of this city. I’m wondering what it’s like where you live. I hope you can show us this week!

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    • Hi, Janet. Yes, we are very lucky. I don’t ever take that for granted! The bird was a surprise after I shot the image! I love it’s little legs getting ready to land! I hope you are doing OK. I’ve been thinking about you.

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      • I know about those surprises that you see after you take the photo. At least it was a good surprise. Thanks for thinking of me. I’ve been out in California visiting our daughter and her family which includes our new grandson for the last week and a half. It’s been really nice. In the middle of this upcoming week I’ll be heading home and start taking care of things for my dad‘s estate.

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  9. Terrific post Patti – I wasn’t sure what you’d consider “local” knowing your current lifestyle so was pleased to see you feature Florence. I know you think of it as a second home. Your images are wonderful and really bring the city to life from a local’s perspective. Wonderful! BTW, I did laugh out loud at the “tropical” trees!!!

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    • I’m sure you were wondering where my “local vistas” are! Ah yes, the palm trees. I’m sure you laughed at these mini-trees! Enjoy your travels, too.

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  11. Well if homeless means spending time in a place like this then good on you! I have never been to Florence, but I would love to spend time in that rose garden if I ever make it there.

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  15. Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #203: Local Vistas – Calling-all-RushBabes

    • Hi, John. It truly is beautiful. I hope you can visit and spend some time here. It’s one of those cities you get to know slowly…neighborhood by neighborhood. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. We’re going to a rugby match today. My first!

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  18. What a treat to enjoy your beautiful photo tour of Florence, Patti. How wonderful to stay there for a period of time and enjoy the daily life there. The last image reminds a lot of Florence. 🙂

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    • Hi, Amy. Many thanks! We are so lucky to be here for a while. I really love it here. I think you’re traveling soon, aren’t you? A cruise, I think? Have a good week!

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  19. Wow, how wonderful to have been able to make your home in Florence, even if temporary! I could just feel the special atmosphere of the city as I looked at your photos. The first one of Dante and Santa Croce is absolutely fantastic, I love that different perspective!

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    • Hi, Sarah. That was a lucky shot! I didn’t know the bird was landing until I saw the image later on. Funny! Thanks so much for your thoughts on this one. Yes, we have been incredibly lucky to stay here. I hope all’s well. Have a good week.

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    • Hi, Xenia. Yes! It has been wonderful. We’re leaving soon, but hopefully we’ll be back later this year. I’ve been thinking about your dogs and how you must miss them. It’s so hard. Take care.

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  22. Beautiful images of Florence Patti! My cousin wants to travel like you do, calling wherever you are home, but he has to wait until his wife retires. I would love to travel, but I think I need a home base. Thanks for your help with getting my blog going yesterday. I appreciate it.

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    • Hi, Anne. Sure. I’m glad I could help. I know what you mean about a home base. We’re thinking of doing that next year. We’ll see. It gets a little crazy figuring out where everything is–with storage in different places! Take care.

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  23. Those a lovely shots of a great little town. I specially love that last photo of the crowds at the Borgo. I’ve been lucky enough to spend long times here on work, and finding the little restaurants, enotecas, pizzerias, and (not to miss them) the gelaterias were some of the pleasures of living there. Beautiful shot of Dante, the bird, and Santa Croce.

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    • Thank so much, IJ. How fortunate you were able to visit here for long periods of time. It’s been a dream of ours, too. I’m so happy we’re doing it now. And yes, absolutely….some of the pleasures here are the food. Heavenly. And the bird…I didn’t realize I had captured it in mid-landing until after I took the shot! Take care and have a good week.

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