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Date: 21/01/2026
Having lived in Florence, Italy, I realised that art here is not separated from daily life. It is not curated for attention; it simply exists, woven into routine movement.
Local residents walk past architectural masterpieces without pausing, not out of disregard but familiarity. A building admired by visitors is, for them, a backdrop to grocery shopping, work commutes, and evening walks.
The historic centre, shaped by centuries of continuity, includes sites such as the Florence Historic Centre, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet life around it remains practical. Cafés serve regulars without ceremony. Shopkeepers prioritise conversation over speed.
What defines the culture is rhythm. Lunch is unhurried. Work is taken seriously but not allowed to dominate identity. Pride exists, but it is quiet—rooted in preservation rather than performance.
To live here requires adjustment. Efficiency gives way to appreciation. Precision yields to proportion. Florence teaches that beauty does not need emphasis when it is already embedded in structure.
It is a place where history does not overwhelm the present.
It simply walks alongside it.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati , Assam , India
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