T R AV E L
Many of these signs in Florence are centuries old, or reconstructed to look centuries old, to protect the integrity of the past.
a proud, crisp message. But the imaginings of hammer and chisel on stone let the viewer feel the weight of history. These are either original or newly designed to recall the history Florence has seen. TrafďŹ c signals and information signs rely on heavy use of simple graphic pictures to provide visual cues to a large population of tourists and students who don’t speak Italian. Posted on restaurants, ATMs, and buses are signs attempting to visually communicate what many cannot read. Most are even translated in English as a secondary measure of comprehension. Some of these seem garish, cluttering the timeless beauty of Florence, but the necessity cannot be ignored in a city that hosts nearly 13 million visitors each year, including thousands of international students. Store and restaurant signs are plainly stated in small alcoves above entry doors on nar-
row cobblestone alleyways. More often than not, the goods displayed in the window entice the shopper inside rather than the signage out front. Window shopping has a more deďŹ ned meaning in Florence as small streets narrowly wind into others. The signage is simple, to the point, and uncomplicated. After all, it might be a gelateria next year as the tides of demand and economy change. Reading the history of Florence is as easy as taking a walk through the streets. Just stop and think about all the signage that gets categorized as a necessity rather than a slice of history or a clue into the modern day. The personality of Florence and the centuries it has seen is speaking from the walls if you will only stop to notice.
FALL-WINTER 2016/17
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