The markets of Florence

To get to know the true soul of a city there is nothing better than delving into its markets. They are places full of charm and tradition that represent in every way the most authentic part of a territory and often preserve its memory and history. In Florence, which has been a mercantile city since the Middle Ages, there is something for all tastes and budgets. You will hardly be able to resist the temptation to buy something.

Ready to stroll among the stalls and shops? We have selected for you the markets not to be missed in Florence.

San Lorenzo Central Market

The San Lorenzo Central Market is a place where food is experienced, told and prepared by artisans who respect and know it deeply. Located in the immediate vicinity of the Basilica of San San Lorenzo, it was inaugurated in 1874 with the International Horticultural Exhibition. Also frequented by tourists looking for food and wine experiences, it is housed in an elegant structure made of iron, cast iron and glass. On the ground floor (Monday – Friday 7am-3pm / Saturday and the day before holidays 7am-5pm) there are food stalls for retail sales, while the first floor (open every day from 10am to midnight) houses shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Outside there is an open-air market, with stalls selling clothing, leather goods, objects and souvenirs.

Sant’Ambrogio Market

Another historic Florentine market is that of Sant’Ambrogio. It takes place from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 14:00 partly outdoors and partly indoors, in a square-shaped building dating back to the second half of the 19th century. It is based in Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti, in the popular Santa Croce neighborhood, which has managed to maintain its identity while opening up to new trends. Here you can find a wide choice of foodstuffs: meat, cured meats, fish, fruit, vegetables, bread, fresh pasta, cheeses and all the best traditional Tuscan products. But there is no shortage of stalls selling clothing and various objects. It is a benchmark for the quality of the goods and popular prices.

Flea Market

A few steps from the Sant’Ambrogio Market, and precisely in Largo Annigoni (after the move from Piazza dei Ciompi), there is the Flea Market, a sort of Eldorado for lovers of vintage and small antique objects in search of new things to add to your collections. It is the place for great occasions, where you can buy vintage objects and, with a bit of luck, conclude the deal of a lifetime by spending a few euros. Here you can find absolutely everything: furniture, vinyl, coins, books, prints, costume jewelery and cutlery are some of the objects that make up this folkloristic market. It is open every day and on the last Sunday of the month it expands into the outdoor space.

Piggy Market

Near Ponte Vecchio, at the crossroads between Via Porta Rossa and Via Calimala, the Porcellino Market is held, also known as the New Market (to distinguish it from the Old Market which was held in Piazza della Repubblica) and the Straw Market (once traditional Florentine straw hats were sold there). It extends under an ancient loggia characterized by the very popular Fontana del Porcellino (actually a wild boar), a copy of the seventeenth-century work by Pietro Tacca, now in the Stefano Bardini Museum. According to popular tradition, touching the pig’s nose brings good luck. Here they sell artisanal leather products made in Tuscany, fine Italian silk items and scarves, embroidered tapestries, tourist shirts and souvenirs. Open every day from 9:00 to 19:30.

Cascine Market

The Cascine Market, probably the largest and cheapest in the city, extends for about 3 kilometers along the tree-lined avenue that runs along the river Arno in the park of the same name, the green lung of Florence a stone’s throw from the centre. Among its stalls it is possible to find food, fresh fruit and vegetables, delicatessen, small objects for the home and garden, clothing, linen, shoes, bags, housewares and antiques. It is held every Tuesday from 7:00 to 14:00 but also: every Sunday in December and the Tuesday before Christmas (from 8:00 to 18:00), the four Sundays before Easter and when the Easter holiday is celebrated. ‘Ascension (from 8:00 to 19:30).

Cover photo © City of Florence | Photo gallery © San Lorenzo Central Market | City of Florence | Piggy Market