Messages From Florence

Messages from Florence by Melinda Gallo is part travelogue, part memoir, and part photography collection. Impromptu photographs and accompanying anecdotes illustrate how the city of Florence "whispered messages" to her about living a more present and open-hearted life.This book documents the author's personal transformation while living as an American expat in Florence after her job in Paris ended. While meandering through the city's gardens, running along the Arno, or watching a sunset, she captured inspired and unplanned moments with her iPhone. These daily jaunts of experiencing and beauty of her surroundings served as a spiritual guide, teaching her to:- Be more open to her surroundings,- Experience the world through her senses, and- Appreciate beauty in everyday life.The central theme is that the physical location of one's home can serve as a profound teacher, encouraging personal growth and a deeper connection to the world. The book is a love letter to the Tuscan capital, showcasing how what began as visual pleasure for her evolved into a deep, abiding love that "courses through [her] veins". The book's essence is captured in one of Florence's messages: "What you see is beauty. What you feel is love".