As expected with its rich artistry history, Florence is a hotspot for music. It doesn’t even matter if you’re seeking it out! At least twice a week I’ll hear the echoes of a street performance down the block and immediately forget where I was heading, like a pirate being lured by a siren. They’ve got everything you can imagine; opera singers, cellists, guitarists, and even dancing ventriloquist puppets!
There’s one spot just a five-minute walk from my apartment that has cute stationary shops, a toy store, gelato, and whatnot, and for some reason, it’s become a designated spot for gifted performers to set up shop and form little crowds that stop by for a moment. I think I’m going to make a documentary about it for my film class. Isn’t it cool to think about one isolated spot on a random sidewalk, and how many stories have been told there through music? And how many other stories passing by were altered? To think it is one musical space out of dozens in the city…
Another place about a 12-minute walk from my apartment that I’ll go to for my favorite gelato (please sponsor me, My Sugar) is a block down from the Mercato Nuovo where Il Porcellino, “the little pig” lives. Legend has it that if you put a coin in his mouth and the water flushes it out, you will return to Florence again. Anyways, during the day this area is a market, but they sweep up the shops in the evenings for buskers to perform. Once a week I’ll sit with an audience on the steps with gelato in hand, basking in the presence of whichever talented performer holds the stage of the little pig. If I’m willing to walk a little farther and take in a grander sight, Ponte Vecchio (the Arno River bridge) is a perfect place to hope for a surprise performance. The walkability of the city is an important factor to mention actually, because I doubt there would be as many performers if cars were always whizzing by. One of my favorite moments in Florence so far was the first time I crossed the Arno at night and a band was playing on the bridge with a lively crowd dancing along. Everyone was so silly and in the moment, I even accidentally made a couple of Italian friends!
I think the best part of these live music moments is the reminder to stop for a minute or two, maybe a half hour, and just enjoy. I could attach that sentiment to a lot of experiences in Italy, like the dining culture I wrote about in my last blog. The buskers also remind me I need to act like I live in Europe and use euros and coins.
It is funny that although street performances are quite a European tradition, all of the songs in Florence are covers of English songs. A lot of songs my dad would jam to, like Hotel California and Free Fallin’. I should extend an honorable mention to Hallelujah and any Coldplay song. It makes sense considering how popular Florence is for American tourists and students, and I can’t be mad I know the songs, but I do wish Italian music was easier to access. The English covers apply to stores and restaurants too. It’s pretty hilarious to be approving a glass of pinot while a female version of Stitches by Shawn Mendes is haunting the room.
I’ve realized it’s about the effort you put into seeking out actual Italian live music. My new favorite spot on the weekends to dance and chat at is called Jazz Club, which plays jazz if you could believe it. Unlike a lot of clubs that reel in American students, Jazz Club hosts a predominantly Italian crowd to cheer on Italian or international bands. It’s incredible to bump along to insane beats that everyone understands no matter what language you speak.
In the bathroom, I met two local women who suggested I go to Ostello Bello next, a hostel bar that has live music on the weekends. I can’t wait to go and bond with people from all over the world! I’m not a huge fan of “going out” these days, but Jazz Club has inspired me to do more research about other live music spots and unsurprisingly there are a lot. These recent discoveries have me appreciating how walkable yet overflowing with art the city is. I’m a little mad at myself that I’m almost halfway through my semester and I could’ve done more research from the get-go. But it’s pointless to mull over, and I’ve got time and a lot more to look forward to!
DU Abroad 