Submitted by Anastacia Johnson on the 2024 Winter HLTH program in Italy…
The final stop on this adventure brought me to the beautiful city of Florence. From staying in an old, refurbished castle to exploring the streets to visiting the Mercato Centrale, Florence was my favorite destination. There was so much to see and do, while also taking day trips to other cities like Pienza and Siena. During our first night, we stumbled upon a fiddler where we danced and sang with others in the crowd before departing and coming across a carousel. The night was filled with childlike wonder and joy and none of us wanted it to end. The Mercato Centrale became a staple while staying in Florence, taking trips once or twice a day for lunch/dinner and also for bringing goodies home. Florence was a dream and it was sad as it signified the program was coming to an end but I couldn’t imagine ending it anywhere else. (Submitted on January 29, 2024)
