Hearing Florence

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This morning I decided to start my day with a run, so I laced up my tennis shoes, grabbed my headphones, and was out the door. One of my favorite things about running in Florence is the ability to cover more ground in a shorter period of time. I get to experience many aspects of the city that I never would have been able to by just walking around. Making time for a run is not only a great way to get a little activity in, but it is also a whole new way of perceiving a space.

A took a path that I have ran before, but this time my curiosity took me farther than it had in the past. Rather than turning around once I got to a certain time or mileage, I continued on, wondering what was beyond my normal route. This led me to climb a long hill, hoping that a great view was at the top. I stopped every once in a while to take in the scenery around me, as it kept getting better the farther up I went. Eventually I made it to the top and the first thing I did was pause my music and take out my headphones. I wanted to be present in the moment and take it all in. That was when I realized how much of an impact hearing Florence has on me. Simply looking at the view was not enough, I also wanted to be able to hear it. Hearing a view doesn’t really make much sense, but the act of overlooking onto the city wouldn’t be the same without it. I was able to hear the strong winds and birds chirping. It truly completed the experience.

The rest of my run I decided to keep my headphones out of my ears and my running experience changed drastically. I was less focused on the act of running and more on the details of the world around me. There was this one street that stuck out to me more than the rest. It was lively with Italians starting their day. In addition to the sound of my footsteps on the pavement, I heard a rooster crowing in the distance, the sound of singing birds and angry crows. I heard the slamming of work truck doors as men unloaded their deliveries and vespas zooming past. I looked up and saw an old man opening his creaky window to let light and fresh air into his home. I even heard the sound of kitchen utensils against a metal bowl which I assume was someone making their breakfast. I experienced all of this simply because I ran without headphones in.

This week, our readings discussed the idea of “public” and “private” places. The article by Iveson called, Putting the Public Back into Public Space, led me to wonder what kind of a space this street was and how the sounds contribute to its culture. It is clearly a public road, but how does it limit its inhabitants and activity? What kind of people are welcome there? What kind of cars are able to fit down the narrow path? What shops are appropriate to open? What history does it have? What sounds are welcome? Sound has a huge impact on the impression of a space and what is welcome in that space has a huge impact on the sounds produced. Although I cannot answer all of these questions, I hope to go back to the street on my next run and consider its inclusive or exclusive sound culture. Perceiving Florence through sound is a whole new way to experience it and I can’t wait to take my next run without headphones!

If you’re looking for a great view, here is a link to the best places with scenic views in Florence! https://foursquare.com/top-places/florence/best-places-scenic-views