Florence Markets
 

I'm hoping someone on this board can assist me. I'm looking for hours and days of operation for several popular markets in Florence. The problem I'm running into is, as I surf the web many different websites are listing different hours and days of operation so I'd love to know when these really take place! We will be in Florence on a Sunday and it also happens to be the last Sunday of the month in case that matters.

The ones I've been looking into are:

San Lorenzo
Straw Market
Mercato delle Pulci


If I've omitted one that you feel shouldn't be missed, pleaset let me know!

Many Thanks!

Hi Luv - Your most reliable source of info is the Tourist Office website, which has a section on markets:

http://www.firenzeturismo.it/content...34/lang,en_EN/

Hope this helps...

Steve

If you are referring to the food market at San Lorenzo, it is closed on Sundays as far as I know. The "straw market" is just stands selling all kinds of stuff to tourists; they should be open on Sundays in season.

I was actually interested in the main market for San Lorenzo. One of the online websites I checked said the food market is closed on Sunday but it lists San Lorenzo main market separately. It states that San Lorenzo main market is open everyday--regular shop hours. I wasn't quite sure what that means given that most shops are closed on Sunday and I'm not quite sure what "regular shop hours" means anyway.

I would guess that by San Lorenzo "main market" they might mean all the touristy stalls which are around the outside of the food market building.

The only markets I am really familiar with in Florence are the large food markets, including Sant' Ambrogio and San Lorenzo, which is also known as the Mercato Centrale. The 2-level interior, where the food stalls are, is open mornings only except for Saturday when it opens again in the afternoon. It is closed Sundays.

there is a big conglomeration of market stalls, around the San Lorenzo church - this is probably what you are thinking of. It was open all day, every day, when we were there last October. I found some very nice silk scarves here for only 5E each - no, they aren't liberty standard but they are still very cheap for what they are. Lots of leather and jewelry too, as well as the usual t-shirts, lewd underwear, etc.

The other main tourist market [also open evry day, I think] is south of the piazza della republica [on the main drag down to the ponte vecchio] by the statue of the boar. Lots of belts, bags, etc. etc.

Shop on the ponte vecchio at your own [and your handbag's] peril.

Good luck!