One of the joys of living in Italy is eating. Ask any local or expat; much of their day revolves around food. Florence has many places to enjoy the best seasonal dishes. San Lorenzo′s Il Mercato Centrale will have any foodie heading to its upper hall upon opening hour.
For years, the upstairs of the nineteenth-century building lay dormant, eager for a reinvention. Having opened in 1874, the market’s original design was by the renowned architect of the day, Giuseppe Mengoni, who also created the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. In 2014, the building turned 140, and the new dining hall was opened to celebrate.
The space is a sun-drenched glass house with exposed iron metal beams and modern, oversized light fittings. It′s bright, contemporary, and without any Italian design cliches—there are no checkered tablecloths here—rather communal tables to share with friends (new or old) and counter after counter of food stalls offering Italian tastes to savour.
Mercato Centrale Florence is a place to see – and eat
Romualdo Rizzuti creates a perfect southern-style pizza with a chewy base and drippings of creamy mozzarella. Come for pasta at Familiga Michelis. If cheese is your weakness, Daniele Meini will excite creamy treats. The food stalls complement one another, run by small independent food artisans passionate about Italy and their products, covering products from bread, meats, cheese, chocolate, gelato, fresh gnocchi, seafood and fried rissoles. Plus, a wine bar and a cooking school run by Scuola Lorenzo di′ Medici. It is open daily from 8 am and ′s a worthy stop on your eating adventures in Florence. Make time to peruse the downstairs market with stalls selling fresh produce and several locations to sample olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pesto, and local wines.
Photo credit: Nardia Plumridge / Mercate Centrale