“What time do you want…” (Call disconnects… reconnecting…)
“Do you want to meet to go over…” (Call disconnects… reconnecting…)
“What time are we…” (Call drops.)
Students and staff all take one road to the International School of Florence: the Viale. We admire the views and the elegance of the historic trees that line this scenic avenue. We all know the Viale as viale Michelangelo or viale Galileo, although the winding panoramic road from Porta Romana to piazza Ferrucci is also called viale dei Colli, meaning “avenue of the hills”. It cuts through uplands bordering the Oltrarno, known as colli fiorentini, or Florentine hills. Yet, how can it be that, in 2025, it’s impossible to make a phone call on one of the most famous streets in Florence? No matter which direction you are going, phone calls are lost, students are unable to scan QR codes for Mobikes and tourists cannot connect to Maps to find their way to landmarks.
The viali were created by Giuseppe Poggi in 1869 as an expansion plan when Florence was the capital of Italy. I can imagine the architect strolling down the Viale dei Colli, calmly observing each cobblestone as he slowly makes his way to Porta Romana to oversee the grand opening of the city gate. The viali attracted trade and travel, which benefitted the urban infrastructure, but had no impact on the city’s unparalleled beauty. Starting from Porta Romana, the broad avenue skirts beautiful villas and parks, up the winding road to San Miniato, where Pinocchio’s creator Carlo Collodi is buried and where Galileo Galilei observed the planet Venus. At the center of the viale dei Colli sits piazzale Michelangelo with a copy of the David, a symbol of strength towering over the captivating skyline.
Part of the piazza belongs to La Loggia, which was originally built as a museum to house Michelangelo’s masterpieces, but instead became a scenic restaurant…with a weak cellular connection. After passing the distant sight of the Duomo, a rural residence with a 15th-century tower comes into view: the International School of Florence. Students regularly walk down the Viale to piazza Ferrucci, named after the Florentine hero who gave his life defending Florence in 1530. We like to grab a coffee at Ditta Artigianale while musing on how many phone calls we were unable to make along the way and how Poggi might react if he were here today. After all, his very aim was to connect the many parts of Florence.
PS. I have reached out to the Mayor’s office to find out if a solution is being put into place regarding the cellular connection problem for the safety of ISF students, locals and the tourists. I will keep you updated.
