Mercato Centrale

The market halls of Florence are known as the Mercato Centrale di Firenze, located in the San Lorenzo neighborhood.

Even though they were constructed in 1874, many Florentines continued shopping at these large market halls to purchase fresh produce and other goods.

The San Lorenzo Market is the place to go whether you are searching for an outing suitable for the entire family, a meal typical of Tuscany, local ingredients with which you can experiment in the kitchen to create a Florentine dish, or a memento to take back with you to your own country.

• Delicious food can be found in the Central Market:

Since 2014, the top floor of the Mercato Centrale has been home to a food court where patrons can enjoy a wider variety of cuisine and traditional dishes.

You will find a variety of small restaurants and tasting rooms in this area, and you will be able to order anything listed on the menu.

This location can prepare a wide variety of delectable foods, including mouthwatering pieces of roasted fish, buffalo mozzarella, fried vegetables, and even sushi.

You place your order at one of the counters and then proceed to eat your meal in the communal area after it has been prepared.

Get souvenirs

The Central Market is conveniently located and can be reached by anyone. Because of this, it is typically very busy and packed with tourists. As a result, the dominant players in the market are expanding their product offerings to include food and leather goods, clothing, and souvenirs.

There are many stalls, for instance, selling masks from Venice and other souvenirs.

• You should begin your trip to the San Lorenzo Market by exploring the outdoor section of the market:

This section of the market can be found running along several streets that surround the Mercato Centrale. Move between the hundreds of stalls lined up on either side of the street. These stalls are occupied by vendors selling various goods made of leather, such as bags, belts, wallets, and jackets. Other items for sale include pottery, clothing, notebooks, and souvenirs.

• The second section of the San Lorenzo Market comprises the Central Market; a food market spread across two levels.

Built between 1870 and 1874, when Florence was still the capital of Italy, the Mercato Centrale is housed in a stunning structure designed by Giuseppe Mengoni. It is very reminiscent of European architecture, particularly Parisian architecture.

Butchers, fishmongers, vendors selling fruit and vegetables, and other small specialty shops selling local olive oils, meats, cheeses, and many different goods can all be found on the market's ground floor. It is a lot of fun to walk around and look at all the new things you have probably never seen or eaten before, such as the cow's stomach, brain, and tongue.

Ask the vendor if you have any questions regarding the items you are permitted to bring back into the country; they will be very knowledgeable regarding which nations allow which products to be brought back across the border.

• A Gourmet Food Court welcomes cosmopolitan culture right in the heart of Florence:

The first floor has been renovated to make it more spacious and bright, and it now has 12 'specialty' artisan stalls where customers can purchase freshly made goods.

Imagine a food shopping center that offers everything you need under one roof, with sections and stands set up so that you can either pick up some unique items to take with you or enjoy a farm-fresh meal of your choosing (and believe us, choices there are plenty).

• Get a sneak peek into artisanal delicacies:

The new Central Market is a cultural center for Italy's culinary traditions. It does this by enabling visitors to participate in the production of artisanal culinary traditions and allowing them to see the production process.

Because of this, those of us who don't have enough time to travel throughout Italy can gain knowledge about the various regions of Italy without ever having to leave Florence. This is a truly remarkable opportunity for those of us in this situation.

Clear glass windows in each individual 'laboratory' allow visitors to get an up-close look at the production process, giving them a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at the various Italian specialties on display. These products come from all over Italy, not just Florence.

You are welcome to watch the bread being made, the famous buffalo cheese being handcrafted, or the artisan gelato made from scratch.

• Coffee lovers can enjoy their own company here:

Suppose all of that wasn't enough to pique your interest. In that case, there is also a coffee shop, a store called 'Fiorentina' that sells everything you could need to show your support for the Florentine soccer team, and a bookstore called Giunti that specializes in cookbooks and other subjects related to the culinary arts.

Include a visit to the San Lorenzo Market as part of your experience in Florence by pausing for a moment, grabbing a coffee made in the Italian style, or indulging in a delectable meal on the newly renovated floor of the Mercato Centrale.