Exploring Italy | Florence Lights + Windows

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When we returned from our Thanksgiving trip to Florence I uploaded all of the (bazillion) photos I took.

I quickly realized that there was a recurring theme. Shop windows and Christmas lights!

It's funny because I didn't realized I was taking so many photos of these things. They are just the things that caught my eye the most, I guess.

Shop windows are beautiful this time of year. So warm, inviting, and magical.

Here are the ones I noticed the most:

 

And my absolute favorite...you can always count on the Howells to keep it classy. :)

 

When we arrived in Florence (the night before Thanksgiving) they were just starting to take out and put up Christmas lights.

We were so excited to see them putting these up:

For a day or two the lights (luce)  were up but not lit. We were worried we weren't going to see them lit up because we thought they'd probably debut on December 1 (the day we left to go home).

One night we walked out of the apartment to go to dinner and BAM!

They were lit. And magic. Pure magic.

The chandeliers were, hands down, my favorite. So elegant and beautiful. I just couldn't get enough of them.

So there you have it...the things I photographed most in Florence!

xoxo

S

Comments

[Leigh Erin]

So beautiful. Love the pics and the chandeliers! Are you kidding me with that!? So awesome!!!

[Kimber-Leigh]

absolutely beautiful. like walking in a dream :) i think i would have spent hours in those little shops! thanks for sharing these with us!

[Jennifer]

B e a u i t f u l!!

[Nicole]

Lovely pictures,thanks for sharing :)

[Elisabeth Costa]

Just gorgeous!! What a way to celebrate:)

[amy lapi]

I spent a summer studying in Florence in college and this post brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes :)

[bev]

lovely pics. it is sweet that so much time and care is taken to light the streets for christmas. ps thanks for reading my blog xx

[Karen C]

Thank you so much for sharing these! I was in Florence this past summer and went in some of those shops pictured. I'm so happy to see the streets with the Christmas lights now! Just beautiful! Thanks!

[Kate]

Wonderful, i went Christmas stopping in Amsterdam last Saturday. Lots of tiny vintage shops, they totally get you in the mood for xmas! Thans for sharing

[CJ]

Stunning Stephanie, absolutely stunning. That bookshop! That cakeshop! And the outside chandeliers - perfection. I have been dreaming of Florence ever since your last post. It just looks blissful. One day I will get there, one day...

[Lissa]

Stunning!!!!!!! =)

[Ret Cudmore]

Oh Stephanie, I'm so very thankful that you posted these! How beautiful and magical!! I wish I could see it in person, but your pictures take me there! Love them! I didn't realize you were going home for Christmas! How exciting is that!!! Enjoy your time together with family & friends! Safe travels!

[Stephanie Howell]

Ret-
Thank you!!! And were not going home...Christmas in Italy! Not sure how I gave you that impression, Im sorry! I wish, though!

[Kirsten J]

Thanks so much for letting me live vicariously - makes me want to go find an episode of House Hunters International to watch. I can't imagine how I'd wrap my brain around the fact that I would get to live there - don't you just pinch yourself constantly? And as beautiful as it all is....Christmas in Italy?? *swoon*

[Candy]

Shopping areas have holiday lights but homes do not. They think Americans are pretentious to put lights on their homes. Silly.

[Tracy L.]

Breathtaking...and I'm so jealous of the whole Italian adventure. What an amazing experience for the girls!!!!

[berta]

Ok, now I want a chandelier to add to my decorations! Beautiful. If only I had the Italian villa to go with it :)

[Colby]

Loved, loved, LOVED the pics! So very festive. I'm at work...and needed a quick break...so I thought I'd catch up on your last few posts. Imagine my surprise when I snorted and cackled out LOUD when I saw the pic of Jimmy and the girls in front of the piggy manequins! That's hilarious! Florence looks GORGEOUS!