About Michelangelo’s Florence

Enchanted by Tales: From Denmark to Florence

I was born in Denmark, in the beautiful city of Aarhus. During the cold winter nights when we were kids, my mom used to read stories by Hans Christian Andersen to me and my brothers. These stories made a huge impression on me. I will never forget the fairy tales of ”the little Mermaid”, ”the Ugly Duckling”, ”the Nightingale” and ”the Snow Queen”.

Hans Christian Andersen travelled a lot, and when he came to Florence in 1840, he was so impressed that he described the city as ”an entire illustrated book”.  He even wrote a beautiful tale named ”The Metal Pig”, inspired by the bronze boar near the Ponte Vecchio. This metal pig, called ”il Porcellino” is still here in Florence, and travellers and tourists still come every day to rub his nose to ensure a return to Florence.

Embracing La Dolce Vita: A Personal Love Affair with Florence

When I first came to Florence many years ago, I felt the same way as Hans Christian Andersen. I was impressed by the city’s beauty, its art. It’s all around you, everywhere you go, everywhere you look. But I was also fascinated by the Italian way of living. Even when working hard, here you never forget to enjoy life and treasure the small pleasant moments of the day: a mid-morning ”caffè al bar”, an aperitivo at a roof-top bar.

This life has become my life. My husband is Italian, I have a wonderful Italian family, wonderful friends and I visit the museums every day….even when I am not working!!

Through the Eyes of a Storyteller: Art, History, and Michelangelo

My aim when touring with you is to tell stories. I like storytelling, and there are so many stories to tell in Florence. So many incredible artists, who made artworks which are among the finest and most important in the world, and the stories behind them are often surprising and astounding.

I love all of the artists, but the one I love most of all is Michelangelo. That is why I have dedicated a whole section of my tours to him. Studying Michelangelo is a lifelong study. My day is not perfect if I have not studied him! And the more I study him, the more I admire him!

During my university studies I also looked into Michelangelo’s poetry and his letters. My Bachelor’s thesis was on Giorgio Vasari’s ”The Lives of the Artists” and my Master’s on aspects of the Renaissance.