This is a place where I like to spend time checking out, and savoring, typical Tuscan delicacies, people watching and attending events! San Lorenzo is a picturesque neighborhood, rich of local folklore and, with its outdoors famous market stalls offering leather goods and souvenirs, a tourists’ Mecca. While the outdoors Mercatino di San Lorenzo has today mostly become a tourists’ attraction, in the Mercato Centraletypical Tuscan artisanal food is sold in the downstairs stalls and prepared, sold and lived in the upstairs restaurants, often combined with events of cultural and social content.
Above are some of the cultural and social events organized by the Mercato Centrale during the month of October, in which the typical and genuine flavors of traditional Tuscan artisanal food, sustainability,science, music, women’ equality, environmental and many other contemporary issues, are intertwined.
The Mercato Centrale.
The Mercato Centrale‘s doors.
When in Florence, I heartily recommend a lunch at the Mercato Centrale!
Piazzale Michelangelo seen from the bridges on the Arno river.
I am enjoying strolling around my Firenze to the fullest and thought to share some of its treasures with you. These are all well known landmarks, works of the most genial artists who ever existed. I am more amazed at their breathtaking beauty every time I visit my native Florence. The city is not large which means that its myriad of masterpieces make every inch of it even more precious. like we Florentines proudly say, ‘Firenze e’ piu’ unica che rara!‘ (Florence is more unique than rare!)
From top left: The Torre di Arnolfo overlooking Palazzo della Signoria, the view from Costa Scarpuccia, our beloved Santo spirito, gorgeous Santa Maria Novella, the Brunelleschi Cupola di Santa Maria del Fiore (famously renamed the Big Red Ball by my young children), Ognissanti, my friend David, the magnificent Santa Croce, the Fontana del Porcellino, the Cestello at night, a taxi, Palazzo Strozzi with its fabulous mostre, the famous piazza with a guy on a horse as defined by my young children, a pescaia on the Arno river, a breathtaking sunset, the Battistero, the Fontana di Nettuno (aka affectionately Il Biancone), the roofs of the city with Palazzo Pitti in the left background, San Lorenzo, il Duomo–Santa Maria del Fiore and the Campanile di Giotto, the Ponte Vecchio.
Should we take some time to wander about the Mercato di San Lorenzo? This is a fun place to go to if you want to take a break and give your brain and soul some time to absorb the overwhelming marvels of the city. Today the vendors aren’t exactly locals any longer and the Mercato is mainly frequented by tourists. The outdoors stalls offer leather goods, accessories and souvenirs. If you bargain enough, which you absolutely should do, you might get yourself items of quite beautiful leather from the concerie (tanneries) around Florence without overpaying for them.
Florence seen from the Piazzale Michelangelo.
I hope you enjoyed our stroll. The above masterpieces are a fraction of what Firenze has to offer; the city is a deep well of treasures in which every corner and stone is to be dearly cherished. Ours was just a short open air stroll; we will leave the museums for another time, I will need to hold your attention for quite a while for them…
All pictures were taken by yours truly and belong to my personal gallery.
