Historical markets- Periodical fairs – Festivals
DAILY
MERCATO DI SAN LORENZO (SAN LORENZO MARKET)
The SAN LORENZO MARKET (CENTRAL MARKET) is a large area formed by a historic building and an outdoor market.
INSIDE the building we find:
- on the ground floor the “BOTTEGHE”, shops that separated from internal streets giving the idea of an old town (butchers, pizzicagnoli, bakers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetable stands and gastronomy)
on the first floor a LARGE COVERED SQUARE welcomes the excellence of artisan food (restaurants and pizzerias) where you can sit in the wide central area.
OUTSIDE the building, in the adjacent streets we find:
- the OPEN MARKET, where you can buy clothes, leather goods, souvenirs and other objects
Internal Market Ground Floor – Monday/ Friday 7 a.m./3 p.m. ; Saturday and pre-holidays 7 a.m./5 p.m
Internal Market First Floor – every day from 10 a.m. to midnight
External Market Nearby streets – Monday/Sunday 9 a.m. /7 p.m.
MERCATO SANT’AMBROGIO (SANT’AMBROGIO MARKET)
It is smaller than that of San Lorenzo.
INSIDE the building are:
- food stalls and a small tavern.
OUTSIDE under the awnings are:
- Vegetable stands, clothing, home products, plants and flowers.
Piazza Ghiberti – Monday/Saturday 7 a.m. /2 p.m.
MERCATO DELLE PULCI
A covered market, entirely dedicated to ANTIQUES with operators who have great passion and professionalism. 28 display boxes, arranged in two rows of 14 elements and public bathrooms.
Piazza Annigoni – Monday/Saturday 9 a.m./5 p.m.
MERCATO DEL PORCELLINO
In the past Mercato Nuovo and Mercato della Paglia today it is known for the bronze sculpture depicting a wild boar (PIGLET) whose nose according to a tradition is said to bring good fortune, hosts a TOURIST MARKET with sale of leather goods and souvenirs.
WEEKLY
MERCATO DELLE CASCINE
It’s the largest market in the city center (about 3 km along the tree-lined avenue that runs along the river Arno), takes place once a week (every Tuesday) in the immense Cascine Park. Here you can find food stalls (fresh fruit and vegetables, gastronomy), clothing, home and garden items.
Viale Lincoln – Piazzale Kennedy, Parco delle Cascine – Tuesday: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The market also takes place:
- every Sunday in December and the Tuesday before Christmas: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- the four Sundays preceding Easter (“Lenten Fair”) and Ascension Day: 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Under the nineteenth-century arcades of Piazza Repubblica, this colourful market of plants and flowers takes place every week.
Via Pellicceria – every Thursday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
MONTHLY
ARTI E MESTIERI DELL’OLTRARNO (OLTRARNO ARTS AND CRAFTS )
The lively and picturesque square of Santo Spirito and in the nearby Borgo Tegolaio are set up numerous stands of artistic and ethnic crafts.
Piazza Santo Spirito – Second Sunday of each month from 9 a.m. to7 p.m. – Closed July and August
FIERUCOLA DEL PANE (THE BREAD FAIR)
Dedicated to small-scale organic farming, crafts and rural life. Involving small family farmers and local craftsmen.
Piazza Santo Spirito – third Sunday of the month: 9 a.m.- 7:30 p.m. – closed August
INDIPENDENZA ANTIQUARIA (INDEPENDENCE ANTIQUARIAN)
Promotional trade fair specialising in the antiques sector
Piazza Indipendenza- third weekend of the month (excluding July and August)
ANNUAL
CAPODANNO FIORENTINO (25 MARZO) (FLORENTINE NEW YEAR – 25 MARCH)
The Florentine New Year is one of the official holidays of the Municipality of Florence and it is celebrated on March 25 each year. In 1582 the Gregorian calendar came into effect, setting the beginning of the year on 1 January, but Florence continued to stubbornly consider 25 March as its New Year’s Day, until, in November 1749, a decree also fixed for Florence the 1st of January as the initial date from which to start the calendar year.
Every year the event is commemorated with a historical procession and in the WEEK OF FLORENTINE is celebrated with special initiatives cultural events, guided tours, fairs and markets related to the enhancement of arts and crafts of the city.
City of Florence – week of 25 March
SCOPPIO DEL CARRO (PASQUA) (EXPLOSION OF THE CART – EASTER)
On the morning of Easter day, the magic of the “explosion of the chariot” is renewed. The “Brindellone”, the “fire” chariot moves pulled by two pairs of white bovi decorated between musicians and flag-wavers of the Historical Parade of the Florentine Republic. The procession starts from the Prato square and arrives in Piazza del Duomo where the ceremony of the chariot takes place with the auspicious flight of the dove that distributed the blessed fire to the whole city.
Piazza del Duomo – Easter
FORTEZZA ANTIQUARIA – MIDI
In the Fortezza da Basso, a masterpiece of military architecture built around 1530, the MIDI International Craft Exhibition has been held since 1931. This is where craftsmanship and creativity meet.
Fortezza da Basso- from 25 April to 1 May 2025
GIARDINO DELL’IRIS (IRIS GARDEN)
To the right of Piazzale Michelangelo – open every day from 25 April to 20 May 2025 from 10 am to 6 pm
FIORITURA DEL GLICINE (FLOWERING OF GLYCINE)
It is possible to see the beautiful flowering of Glicine in the garden of VILLA BARDINI between mid-April and early May
Villa Bardini – Costa S. Giorgio, 2
MERCATO DELLE PIANTE -GIARDINO ORTOCULTURA (PLANT MARKET -HORTICULTURE GARDEN)
More than 50 florivivaisti from all over Italy exhibit in the garden of the company Tuscany Horticulture where you can admire the beautiful iron and glass greenhouse.
Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 :
- from 25 April to 1 May
- The first weekend of October
FESTA DI SAN LORENZO
La mattina del 10 agosto le tradizionali celebrazioni con il Corteo Storico della Repubblica Fiorentina e la sera la festa in piazza con cibo e musica.
Piazza San Lorenzo – 10 agosto
RIFICOLONA
On the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin (since the nineteenth century) takes place the farmers market of Rificolona.
Piazza Santissima Annunziata – first weekend of the month from September
FIERA INTERNAZIONALE DELLA CERAMICA (INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS FAIR)
The fair takes place on the first weekend of October in Piazza di Santa Croce and hosts about 90 Italian and European potters who present a wide variety of ceramic techniques, from stoneware to porcelain, from majolica to gloss.
The fair is organized by Arte della ceramica and La Fierucola and for children are organized clay manipulation workshops.
Piazza Santa croce – first weekend of October
MERCATI DI NATALE ( CHRISTMAS MARKETS)
From December to January in various squares of the city you will find Christmas themed markets and fairs organized by local crafts associations
Nordic Christmas Market – 3rd week of December – Piazza Libertà – Parterre
Santa’s house and German Christmas market – Piazza Santa Croce
Santa Maria Novella christmas market
Fierucola dell’Immacolata – Piazza SS announced – weekend 8 December
Christmas fair – Piazza Ognissanti
Christmas Perfile -Palazzo Corsini – week of mid-December
Green Light – first week of January lighting installations and workshops throughout the city
LA CAVALCATA DEI MAGI (6 GENNAIO) (THE RIDE OF THE MAGI – 6 JANUARY)
The event, whose composition is inspired by the famous cycle of frescoes “La Cappella dei Magi” by Benozzo Gozzoli, includes a procession of 700 participants (including those of the Corteo Storico della Repubblica Fiorentina), which usually starts from Piazza Pitti, to walk through the streets of the old town and arrive in Piazza Duomo.