Florence Markets

When people speak of the Mercato San Lorenzo, they mean both the outdoor leather and goods open air market as well as the indoor grocery market. The indoor maket is. also known as the Mercato Centrale.The downstairs is the old original market. The downstair market is open from 7-2pm,longer on Saturday and closed on Sunday. The upstairs was built after the 1966 flood and then redone recently and turned into an Artisan Food Court called "MERCATO CENTRALE" Owned by my friend Umberto Montana. He has opened several of them now in Rome, Milano and Torino. It is also restaurant dining, and is open from 10am until midnight daily except for Christmas. The open air leather and goods market is open all week from 8am until 8pm ( usually) There is a cooking school upstairs now for one day classes, run by the local language school, Lorenzo dei Medici.

Located past the Church of Santa Croce, this market is still used by the locals. It's a great neighborhood as well. This is on the far side of the city, but an easy walk. There is an outside part of the market, with some clothing, flowers and house things and inside is all food. Being nearby to the Synagogue, there is also a Kosher Butcher inside. There is a small trattoria, Rocco and now you can also eat above one of the Butcher's shops, Luca Mennoni.

Piazza Santo Spirito is in the "oltr'arno" area. The piazza is now filled with bars and restaurants. There is also smaller market there with some food and clothing from 8-2pm Monday through Friday for normal shopping. But on weekends, it hosts many markets: Second weekend of the month Vintage/Antique Third weekend La Fierucola: Santo Spirito Artisan

This market is across down in the residential part of Florence to the North. We go to eat at the fish shop. I adore their fried fish and the octopus sandwich.They of course had a tripe stand as well. There is an underground walkway, filled with Graffiti which I always take people to see. Across the street is a gelateria as well. Cavini.