Florence Markets
The Heart of the City
I have been a market maven all my life. Seeking out the markets is really a way to see what people eat and drink locally. I adore people watching and learned a lot of my Italian at the market. For 20 years, my cooking school was located right in front of the San Lorenzo Market and was the base of my Market to Table cooking classes. Such inspiration!
Downtown Florence now has become more and more a city where the locals have been pushed out to make more room for Airbnb rentals and priced out Florentines. So the markets also reflect that now with many stands adding non-perishable items, such as novelty pasta and limoncello. But, it does keep the Mercato San Lorenzo or Mercato Centrale as it is also known, market alive. There are still many stands with beautiful food!
The market was recently renovated and the upstairs is now an artisan food court and market. It is open from 10am to midnight.
I still adore going, as I have been going since I moved here in 1984. I know which stands are still wonderful and what each one’s specialties are.
Below are a few of my favorite markets and some tips on eating out as well as a link to my new guide to the Markets of Florence
