5 markets for gourmets in Tuscany

The market in Piazza delle Vettovaglie in Pisa is open every day, morning and afternoon, and extends from the square into the adjacent streets, with its stands of fruit, vegetables and other food specialties. It is one of the most characteristic and authentic places in the town of the Leaning Tower, a lively corner that invites to stop to take colorful photos, but also to drink a glass of wine and watch the market show!

In the heart of Florence there is the historic Central Market of San Lorenzo, housed in the original nineteenth-century iron and glass structure, designed by the architect Mengoni and inspired by the Parisian Halles. On the ground floor you can buy all the typical local products, from vegetables to meat, from bread to sweets, from cheeses to wines; it is also the perfect spot for a lunch break with some authentic "Florentine street food", such as a lampredotto sandwich accompanied by a glass of Chianti. On the first floor there are more than 20 food and wine establishments, serving local and international dishes in a large and totally renovated space.

The other historic Florentine market is the one that animates the Sant'Ambrogio neighborhood every morning. For those who want to buy organic products directly from the hands of small farmers and artistic creations from the hands of artisans, the "mercatino" not to be missed is the popular "Fierucola" which is held in Piazza Santo Spirito every third Sunday of the month.

Another splendid Parisian-inspired market is that of Livorno - Mercato delle Vettovaglie - one of the largest covered markets in Europe, built in 1894 along the Fosso Reale canal and designed by the architect Badaloni. Here, among the stands of fruit, vegetables and cured meats, the pavilion dedicated to the (obviously very fresh) fish stands out. It goes without saying that this is the ideal place to buy the ingredients for a perfect and tasty "cacciucco alla livornese".

One of the best markets among those hosted in the Tuscan villages is that of Greve in Chianti, active since 1300. Every Saturday morning in the central Piazza Giacomo Matteotti you can browse through the creations of local craftsmanship - such as straw baskets - and typical local products, from Pecorino cheese to Chianti Classico wine. To end the morning, nothing better than a lunch in one of the wine-shops or restaurants housed in the beautiful portico surrounding the square: a sandwich with sbriciolona (a local salami) or wild boar sausage, a platter of cold cuts and cheeses, or a classic Tuscan plate like pappa al pomodoro.

The market in Piazza delle Vettovaglie in Pisa is open every day, morning and afternoon, and extends from the square into the adjacent streets, with its stands of fruit, vegetables and other food specialties. It is one of the most characteristic and authentic places in the town of the Leaning Tower, a lively corner that invites to stop to take colorful photos, but also to drink a glass of wine and watch the market show!

The weekly market of San Gimignano is held on Thursdays in the magnificent historic center of one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany, between Piazza Duomo, Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza delle Erbe. Walking in the shade of the towers you can buy the typical products of Valdorcia, such as Pecorino Toscano DOP, PDO San Gimignano Saffron, or the prized Cinta Senese cured meats, without obviously neglecting the excellent local wines: the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG and the Orcia DOC.