The Central Market of Florence, located between Via dell’Ariento, Via Sant’Antonino, Via Panicale and Piazza del Mercato Centrale, was created during the renovation at the end of the 19th century, in the period of Florence Capital of Italy.
The Central Market today
Today, the Central Market of Florence extends over a refurbished area of 3000 square meters and houses many shops. Here, visitors can discover the specialities of local craftsmen and take part in a variety of events and initiatives.
The Central Market is more than just a place of commerce. It is a meeting point where the human factor is as important as the quality of the goods offered. Here, the daily shopping becomes an opportunity to share recipes and advice handed down from the centuries-old cultural tradition of expert market operators.
The Central Market of Florence is a living place where the metropolitan atmosphere merges with rural roots, intertwining flavors and stories in search of authenticity. It is not just a sales area, but an expression of collective history, in continuous evolution and rooted in the Florentine tradition.
Its new façade represents a meeting between tradition and modernity, integrating the needs of customers with the routine of salesmen. The historic structure, renovated and open to external collaborations, highlights its importance in the daily life of the city.
The Mercato Centrale in Florence hosts projects and events that celebrate local history and culture, rooted in Florentine life. Citizens participate enthusiastically, confirming the central role of the market as a community meeting place.
Flavours and traditions to enjoy
The shops of the Central Market are oases of tradition and quality, where the culinary art and hospitality create a unique experience. Each shop, run by expert craftsmen, offers a careful selection of fresh and genuine products, from aged cheeses to fresh meats, vegetables to exotic spices, all from trusted local suppliers.
Many shops at the Central Market also offer products ready to be enjoyed on site, such as gourmet sandwiches, fresh pasta dishes and homemade cakes. They represent the best of Florentine food and wine, combining quality, tradition and hospitality for an unforgettable experience.
Inside the Central Market, many shops with their own owners and cashiers are divided into various sectors: Food, Bakery, Florist, Butcher, Fruit and Vegetable, Fish Market, Poultry, Catering and Tripperia. The vast majority of these shops are historical, often passed down from father to son.
Here is a detailed overview:
- Food: twenty-five shops offer the best products of Florentine and Tuscan gastronomy.
- Bakery: three bakeries offer the real flavors of Florence in baking and pastry.
- Butcher’s shop: fourteen butchers’ shops offer high quality meat, appreciated by both tourists and residents and also supplied to the best restaurants in Florence.
- Pescheria: five shops with the best products of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Polleria: five shops selling poultry reared in Tuscany.
- Catering: ten shops between bars and grocery stores offering excellent and tasty food ready to eat in the tables of the historic Central Market.
- Tripperia: two shops where the delicacies of trippa and lampredotto, prepared for generations, preserve and pass on the Florentine tradition. The shops work with respect to original recipes and their authenticity and by the rigorous selection of raw materials.
- Finally, inside the market there is also a flower shop or florist.
The Central Market is open from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 3 pm; on Saturdays from 7 am to 5 pm.
Many shops in the Central Market also offer home delivery.
For more information on this service, visit the official website of the Central Market in Florence.
Foto : Unsplash
The lampredotto, a specialty of Florence
Lampredotto is a typical dish of the Tuscan cuisine, especially of Florence, and is considered a traditional dish of the Florentine gastronomy. It is a dish made from bovine offal, specifically the calf’s stomach.
The preparation of the pipeline takes several steps. Typically, the stomach is thoroughly cleaned to remove any residue and then boiled in boiling water along with flavors such as celery, carrot, onion and spices. Once boiled, the stomach is cut into thin strips and served hot, usually in a sandwich (the classic “lampredotto” sandwich), topped with green sauce, black pepper or chili pepper to taste.
It is a dish very appreciated for its strong flavor and its particular consistency, and is traditionally consumed as street food in the markets or in the street stalls of the city.
The Restoration of Florence
The period of the Restoration of Florence, which took place in the second half of the 19th century, represented a phase of profound urban and social transformation of the city, linked in part to the brief experience of Florence as capital of Italy from 1865 to 1871. During this period, there was a strong push to modernize and improve the city’s sanitation conditions by eliminating unhealthy and overcrowded areas and creating new public spaces and infrastructure.
The main features of the Restoration of Florence included demolitions and reconstructions, in fact, the old dense and unhealthy areas, such as the Old Market, were demolished to make room for new squares and buildings, such as Piazza della Repubblica.
These changes were aimed at improving air circulation and quality of life.
To replace the old open-air markets, new covered markets were built, such as the Central Market of San Lorenzo, the Market of Sant’Ambrogio and that of San Frediano, although the latter was later demolished.
The period also saw the creation of new streets, squares and public services, with the aim of modernizing the city and making it more functional and healthy.
The urban and architectural interventions were often inspired by European models, such as the Halles in Paris, and involved renowned architects like Giuseppe Mengoni, who designed the Mercato Centrale inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.
The Restoration was therefore a period of great change for Florence, marked by the desire to modernize the city and improve the living conditions of its inhabitants, but also by significant controversies and criticism, The loss of part of the city’s historical and cultural heritage.
History of the Central Market
With the increase in population and the demolition of the Old Market to make room for Piazza della Repubblica, the market of the Loggia del Porcellino was no longer sufficient for the needs of the city. As a result, three new covered markets were designed: the San Lorenzo market, the Sant’Ambrogio market and a third one at San Frediano. The latter, designed by Giuseppe Mengoni, was inaugurated in 1875 and demolished in 1915.
To create the structure of the Central Market it was necessary to free a whole block in the maze of narrow and ancient streets of the area, knocking down an island of houses for each street (Via dell’Ariento, Via Panicale, Via Chiara and Via Sant’Antonino). This allowed the opening of a large square to house the new covered market. The redefinition of the district did not raise too many criticisms, unlike what happened to Piazza della Repubblica, since the buildings demolished were popular casupole and the area was effectively embellished and ennobled.
To create the structure of the market was hired Giuseppe Mengoni, the architect of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, which was inspired by the Halles in Paris. The result was remarkable, with the integration of modern materials (iron, glass, cast iron) with the appearance of existing buildings. All around was built a loggia with ten classical arches on each side, with slender stone columns. The inauguration took place in 1874 with the International Agricultural Exhibition.
The functionality of the building was and is particularly evident today from inside, where light filters abundantly through high windows, creating the effect of an open-air market. The layout of the shops was not random: butchers, pollaioli, pizzicagnoli, bakers and fishmen were divided into areas, taking into account also the natural ventilation due to the conformation of the three aisles of the building.
Until 1979, the fruit and vegetable market in Florence was held outdoors in the triangular square in front of it, called piazza del Mercato. In that year, the work was completed to build a new platform on the first floor, equipped with specially designed benches and cold rooms, thus allowing the transfer of the fruit and vegetable market within the structure. The project was carried out by the Florentine studio Architetti Associati.
During the construction, the ground floor market remained open throughout the opening hours. The new platform is characterized by a large lattice beam that minimizes the number of new pillars and foundations, keeping the original structure free and independent and ensuring the distribution of natural light and visibility even on ground level. The same project, which won a tender in 1976, was used to make the basement a parking space.
With the rise of the large distribution and the flight of the inhabitants from the historic center, the entire market entered a deep crisis, affecting especially the fruit and vegetable sector.
In 2014, the first floor of the complex was reopened with the project Mercato Centrale, initiated by Umberto Montano, entrepreneur of the restaurant industry, and the group Human Company of the Cardini-Vannucchi family. Today, the refurbished space is 3000 square meters. , with many shops offering the specialties of artisans and host a series of events and initiatives.
Architectural description
The Central Market of Florence, one of the symbols of architecture and city life, is a masterpiece of the period of the Florentine Restoration. Designed by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni, already famous for the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, the Mercato Centrale is an excellent fusion between classic and innovative architectural elements.
The structure is spread over several levels, with an imposing facade characterized by classic stone arches, which give a sense of majesty and solidity. The arches are supported by elegant columns that reflect the Florentine Renaissance style. The serena stone is a grey sandstone particularly used in architecture and partly also in sculpture. It is typical of the historical architecture of Tuscany, and in particular of Florence.
The interior of the Central Market is dominated by a large and bright main hall, characterized by a high wooden truss ceiling and a large window that filters natural light, creating a cozy and lively atmosphere. The three aisles of the market are organized in a rational way, with the various commodity sectors arranged in an orderly manner along the corridors, facilitating the movement of visitors.
The interior walls are decorated with colourful tiles and mosaics that evoke the lively and traditional atmosphere of the Florentine markets. The spaces are enriched by stalls and stands offering a wide range of fresh food products and local delicacies, creating a unique sensory experience for visitors.
Over the years, the Central Market has undergone several transformations and restorations, but it has retained its original beauty and charm, becoming a must-see place for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the culinary tradition and authentic atmosphere of Florence.
How to reach the Central Market of Florence
Once in Florence, from any part of the city it is easy to reach the Market, either by public transport, on foot or by car.
Public transport
Lines with stops near the Mercato Centrale: C2, C4, 1, 6, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23, 36, 37
The Historical Central Market is a few meters from the tram stop in Piazza dell’Unità
On foot
The Mercato Centrale is located in the San Lorenzo district, just a few steps from the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella and Piazza della Signoria.
Train
The Historical Central Market of Florence is just 800 meters from Santa Maria Novella station.
By car
Getting to the Central Market is quick and easy.
The underground car park is arranged with the Historical Central Market. For those who shop on the ground floor, the ticket offers a reduced rate for the first two hours.
The car park of Santa Maria Novella station is 5 minutes walk from the Central Market.
Copertina: Unsplash
