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5 markets for gourmets in Tuscany

In search of the most genuine flavors and authentic atmosphere

Which is the best way to discover the most authentic flavors of Tuscany and its typical products? A visit to one of the many markets, from those in the main cities to those in small towns, each with its own history, each with its own atmosphere.

To help you choose, here are 5 markets between cities of art and villages. A small guide dedicated to gourmet travellers.

Contents
  • 1.
    The Pisa market
  • 2.
    The markets of Florence
  • 3.
    The Livorno market
  • 4.
    The market of Greve in Chianti
  • 5.
    The Pisa market
  • 6.
    The market of San Gimignano
1.

The Pisa market

The market in Piazza delle Vettovaglie in Pisa
The market in Piazza delle Vettovaglie in Pisa - Credit: jacqueline.poggi

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!

1.

The markets of Florence

Central Market of San Lorenzo in Florence
Central Market of San Lorenzo in Florence - Credit: Rufus46 / WikiCommons

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.

1.

The Livorno market

Vettovaglie Market in Livorno
Vettovaglie Market in Livorno - Credit: Fabiana Matteini

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".

1.

The market of Greve in Chianti

The market in Piazza Matteotti, Greve in Chianti
The market in Piazza Matteotti, Greve in Chianti - Credit: enjoychianti - pagina FB

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.

1.

The Pisa market

The market in Piazza delle Vettovaglie in Pisa
The market in Piazza delle Vettovaglie in Pisa - Credit: jacqueline.poggi

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!

1.

The market of San Gimignano

PDO San Gimignano Saffron
PDO San Gimignano Saffron

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.

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