Markets in Florence
From zen2
The Rough Guide to Florence and the Best of Tuscany p205
Cascine Parco del Cascine. The biggest of all Florence’s markets happens Tuesday morning (8am–1pm) at the Cascine park near the banks of the Arno (bus #1, #9, #12 or #17c), where hundreds of stallholders set up an al fresco budget-class department store. Fewer tourists make it out here than to San Lorenzo, so prices are keener. Clothes (some secondhand) and shoes are the best bargains, though for cheaper still, you should check out the weekday-morning stalls at Piazza delle Cure, just beyond Piazza della Libertà (bus #1 or #7; Tues 8am–1pm).
San Lorenzo Piazza di San Lorenzo. Another open-air warehouse of cheap clothing. San Lorenzo is as well organized as a shopping mall: huge waterproof awnings ensure that the weather can’t stop the trading, and some of the stallholders even accept credit cards. You’ll find plenty of leather jackets, T-shirts and other cheap clothes. For anything pricey, you could try haggling, but bear in mind that these traders aren’t exactly desperate for customers. Daily 8am to 7pm.
Mercato Centrale Piazza del Mercato Centrale. Europe’s largest indoor food hall is situated at the heart of the stall-filled streets around San Lorenzo, and is well worth a visit whether you intend to buy or not. Its popularity as a tourist sight has pushed prices up, but it’s still unbeatable for picnic supplies. Monday to Saturday 7am to 2pm, plus Saturday 4 to 8pm in winter.
Mercato Nuovo Loggia del Mercato Nuovo. Just to the west of Piazza della Signoria (and also known as the Mercato del Porcellino), this is the main emporium for straw hats, plastic Davids and the like. Mid-February to mid-November daily 9am to 7pm; mid-November to mid-February Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Mercato delle Pulci Piazza dei Ciompi. A flea market stacked with antiques and bric-a-brac, pitched every day near the Sant’Ambrogio food market. Monday to Saturday 9am to 7pm. More serious antique dealers swell the ranks on the last Sunday of each month (same hours). On the second Sunday of each month there’s a smaller flea market on Piazza Santo Spirito, from 8am to 6pm.
Mercato Sant’Ambrogio Piazza Ghiberti. Big, cheap market just beyond Santa Croce, with food stalls in the central hall, as well as cheap clothes and leather. Monday to Saturday 7am to 2pm.