Overview

The artisans of taste, in the historic centre of Florence.

If you want to spend a day experiencing typical Tuscan “flavours”, enjoying a simple yet traditional lunch, don’t miss Mercato Centrale, or Mercato di San Lorenzo.

This impressive iron, cast iron and glass structure was built in the 19th century, when Florence was the capital of Italy, based on a design by Giuseppe Mengoni, creator of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade. The market opened in 1874 with an International Agricultural Exhibition.

Today, it is the go-to place for residents and tourists looking for delicious and rewarding food and wine experiences. Open daily, it has an indoor building housing the market and an outdoor space with street vendors.

On the ground floor, you will find “a little bit of everything”: fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, with the opportunity to taste the food on offer at the various refreshment stations.

On the first floor are the “delicatessen” shops and restaurants offering local, national and international specialities, from Lampredotto accompanied by a glass of Chianti Classico to fried fish, from Chinese dumplings to French pastries.