What better way to experience a place than through its food?

Florence is bursting with typical, traditional Florentine cuisine.

From restaurants and trattorie that maintain authentic Florentine traditions, marked by rich, ancient flavors and made with the best quality ingredients, to top-notch gourmet restaurants where tradition meets modernity.  

But the ‘experience’ of food isn’t only tied to eating; experiencing a cuisine also means immersing yourself in its birthplace, a world of stalls, smells, voices and colors… the city market.

There are two markets in the historic center of Florence that you absolutely can’t miss.  

Just around the corner from the Duomo, in the San Lorenzo neighborhood, you’ll find the Mercato Centrale.

The structure was built in 1843 when piazza della Repubblica was transformed from the ancient city market into the elegant 19th-century piazza seen today.

The Mercato Centrale is a fascinating and impressive structure made of iron and glass (typical of the late 19th century) that at first glance resembles a greenhouse.

For its inauguration, during the World Horticultural Exposition, it was fittingly decorated to resemble a winter garden. 

On the first floor you’ll find food stands of every kind, from butchers to fruit and vegetable stands, a maze of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables and vendors selling typical “cucina povera” dishes [poor people’s food], like trippa [cow stomach] or a lampredotto sandwich [cow stomach sandwich].

It’s a world of stands flourishing with authentic Florentine life, marked by the exchange between those offering this delicious food and those who buy it, locals that for decades have preserved this popular treasure. 

The second floor was recently renovated to house a series of modern shops.

Here, you can try the finest typical Italian delicacies from all over Italy.

Sit at one of the tables in the large, open space and enjoy a lunch or dinner with friends in the welcoming environment.

It’s a culinary experience not to be missed!