The City Pattern

Posted on by Esterina Anderson

Last summer, one Saturday morning when we first started talking about coming to Italy for a year, we were very keen on the idea of moving to a city. Esterina grew up in Brooklyn and Daren had lived in New York City and Boston for several years. We both have fond memories of city living—the energy, the walkability, the simplicity of not needing a car.

We were excited about it for a few days, until one rainy afternoon when we were stuck inside. Esterina asked, “What would we do in a city on a day like today in a small apartment?” That question planted the first seed of doubt.

Later in the fall, while looking for a place to live, we still explored the idea. Our first stop was Bologna—everyone we knew, in and outside of Italy, loved it. It felt like the perfect fit. But after just a few hours of walking around, doubts crept in.

Then came Rome. For a few days, we were convinced that was it. But not long after arriving, something shifted. We found ourselves paying a small fortune just to sit in a park for a bit of greenery. The loud clashing of church bells at noon and the constant sirens made it feel like there was no escape from the noise. Once again, the doubts surfaced—this time more clearly.

We don’t know why we don’t recognize the pattern sooner. We live in Connecticut and love going to New York City. Every time we go, we’re excited and start imagining what it would be like to live there. But after a day or two, something changes. It starts to feel like too much. And when we get home, the birds, the trees, the open space—it all feels exactly right.

Luckily, we gave ourselves enough time in these Italian cities to notice that same shift. It led us to choosing a home in the hills of Tuscany—just 10–15 minutes from town, with everything we need nearby, including a train that gets us to Florence in under half an hour.

This week, we had to go into Florence to swap out our car (a long story), and decided to stay a few days.

And just like that, the draw of the city pulled us in again.

Florence is stunning. Walkable, charming, full of life. We parked the car once and didn’t need it again. That alone felt like such a relief. We started imagining—what if we lived here long-term? Everything felt easy and beautiful.

And the options. After weeks of mostly Italian cuisine (which is incredible, no question), we were suddenly surrounded by variety again. Different foods, big grocery stores, clothing shops, markets, art—everything right there.

It felt exciting. Full.

And then…

The dog had nowhere to go. No grass. Nowhere to sniff. We walked and walked, searching for even a small patch, and came up empty. Eventually, he just went in the middle of the street.

And when we got tired—from all the walking—and wanted a break, the options were shops or our small hotel room. I had that same thought again: where do you go to actually relax?

On our last day, we planned to go to Mercato Centrale—the big open market—before everything closed for Easter. We left the dog at the hotel and headed out, ready to stock up.

We walked in and it was beautiful. The smells, the colors, the energy—it felt magical. The kind of place you imagine having at your fingertips all the time.

And within minutes, we were done.

Too many people. Too many options. Too much navigating, deciding, sampling. We looked at each other and walked out.

We headed back toward the hotel—and toward our poor dog—and realized we’d much rather just go to the local Coop and get what we needed.

We love cities. We really do.
But we love leaving them just as much.
And coming home—where it’s quiet, green, and enough.

And we will be back. Again & again & again. Here is why! (photos below)

Updates from Esterina https://esterinaanderson.com/2026/04/06/on-easter/

Updates from Daren https://esterinaanderson.com/2026/04/06/beauty-in-the-large-and-the-small/

Stone wine selling niche embedded in a wall, featuring an archway and engraved text 'VENDITA di VINO'.
One of the many ancient wine windows in Florence
Night view of the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy, with buildings lining the riverbank reflecting in the Arno River.
A panoramic view of Florence, Italy, showcasing a cityscape with historic buildings, including a tall clock tower and domed structures, framed by tree branches and clear blue skies.
A large bronze sculpture of a human face with a weathered appearance, standing on a metal base in a landscaped garden with trees and greenery in the background.
A panoramic view of Florence, Italy, showcasing historical architecture, including a prominent building with a clock tower, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of a lush green landscape featuring rolling hills, olive groves, and a castle on a hillside under a clear blue sky.
A smiling man wearing sunglasses stands beside a lush green hedge, dressed in a dark blue shirt and jeans, holding a tan jacket.
A couple posing for a selfie in front of a historic building with a fountain, illuminated by bright sunlight.
A view of a large sculpture of a male figure from behind, looking up towards an ornate circular skylight within a museum interior.
Close-up view of a marble statue depicting a young man with curly hair, deep eyes, and a contemplative expression, showcasing intricate details of the face.
Did you know David’s Eyes are Hearts?
Night view of the Florence Cathedral, showcasing its intricate architecture and dome.
A black dog sitting on a paved surface in front of a historical building, with banners displayed on the wall behind.
A smiling man in a brown jacket stands on a city street, holding the leash of a black dog. In the background, there are shops and pedestrians.
A black dog lying on the floor next to a bookshelf filled with colorful books.
Koji’s first trip into a book store
A bustling square with historic architecture and a cloudy sky, featuring people walking and a row of red rental bikes nearby.
A woman in a purple jacket stands next to a black dog outside a Gucci store, with a sunny street backdrop.
In front of the first Gucci Store!
Exterior view of a restaurant named 'Campolmi' located on a narrow street, with a person walking by and a woman standing in front.
a Yarn Store!!
A woman in a purple jacket stands with a black dog in a crowded city square, featuring historical statues and buildings in the background.
Replica of David

Beauty in the Large and the Small

Posted on by Esterina Anderson

This past week we spent three days in Florence. It is a gorgeous city steeped in art and history. The Medici, who ruled the city for 300 years, placed enormous value on art—particularly painting, architecture, and sculpture. They used their vast wealth to bring the greatest artists from around Italy to Florence, where they could create masterpieces and experiment with new techniques. It’s not an overstatement to say that the Medici were the founders—or perhaps the midwives—of the Renaissance.

Everything about Florence is big. The statue of David is 17 feet tall and weighs 12,000 pounds. The Duomo, Florence’s famed cathedral, can hold 30,000 people and is one of the largest in the world. Its dome, designed and built by Brunelleschi, remains the largest masonry dome ever constructed. And the crowds in Florence are enormous as well. We were there during the first week in April—not even high season—but the crowds were impressive.

I’d call this phenomenon “big crowds to see big things.” Everyone has heard about the great sights in Florence, and they come in droves to experience them. The line to get into the Duomo stretched halfway around the building (we took a pass). Crowds on the Ponte Vecchio were so dense it was hard to get across. We waited in line for 20–30 minutes to enter the Boboli Gardens. Despite the crowds, we thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the beauty of this magnificent city—great works, great sights, great food, great city.

I’ve been reading about the life and teachings of St. Francis. Although I’m only at the beginning of what I hope will be an ongoing exploration, I’ve learned enough to know that he would not have thought much of these big, beautiful things. St. Francis found beauty in the small things and preached the importance of simplicity, nature, and faith through action. He didn’t like big churches, big titles, or showy deeds. He cautioned against the dangers of pursuing the “three P’s”: power, prestige, and persona.

I was thinking about him a few days ago while walking Koji first thing in the morning. In the past, I would have been in a bit of a rush. I always walked Koji early, right after getting up, which meant his walk was a chore to complete before breakfast, coffee, and getting to work. While I tried to use these walks to clear my mind and appreciate my surroundings, my thoughts were often elsewhere—focused on “big things” like an upcoming presentation, a meeting, or a deadline.

Big Sights & Scenes from Florence

My walks here in Italy have been different. There is no rush. There are few big things to worry about.

On this particular morning, Koji was very into sniffing. In the past this would have annoyed me. This time, I let him sniff to his heart’s content, which gave me time to appreciate the beautiful views from our hilltop property. This time of year there are wildflowers everywhere—yellow, orange, purple, and white. Whole fields are dotted with them, but they’re so small you miss them unless you stop and look closely.

Then, in the distance, I heard the faint tinkling of what sounded like cowbells. I would not have noticed them had I not paused in silence while Koji sniffed. As I searched for the source, I saw a flock of sheep grazing in the valley below. The bells were sheep bells, not cowbells. Mountains in the distance were snowcapped, and a layer of fog covered the valleys below. In the past, I would have missed this entire scene.

It was as much a masterpiece as any painting in a Florentine gallery. But unlike those in Florence, this one was mine to enjoy without the crowds. Its components were small, everyday things: flowers, fog, and sheep.

Scenes from Morning Walks with Koji

I loved Florence and will absolutely go back to see more. But there are two messages for me in these contrasting experiences. The first is that if we spend our time only seeking out the “big things”—great domes, statues, and famous paintings—we will miss the great works of art that exist everywhere in nature. They are not celebrated or recorded, but they are there for the taking if we only stop and look.

And therein lies the second message: these natural masterpieces are easily missed. We likely overlook hundreds of them every day when we are preoccupied with other things. Slowing down, even for a few moments, opens us up to appreciating the masterworks in our own backyard.