San Lorenzo Market, Florence, Italy

San Lorenzo is made up of both an outdoor market and an indoor market (also known as Mercato Centrale / Central Market).

The surrounding streets around Mercato Centrale building are lined with vendors selling leather goods, souvenirs, and clothings. They only operate from Tuesday to Saturday, so do plan your visit well. You can absolutely feel free to bargain here and try to snag a deal because many goods are marked up in price from the beginning. The vendors, who speak English very well, may seem stiff on their initial prices, but be firm and you will be sure to walk away with a deal. We weren't very keen in the variety of items on sale, and unless you are looking for leather goods, you are likely to end up not buying anything as well.

Row of vendors lined up the streets surrounding Mercato Centrale.

We browse through the outdoor stalls quickly and made our way to the Mercato Centrale building. It is a two-storey food market which opens daily from 10am to midnight. You never have to worry about food in Florence. This is food heaven for James, and I wished you could see how excited and serious he got into exploring the stalls! With over 3,000 square meter of space and 500 seats, it is a one-stop food shopping center, divided into categories and stalls in which you can either buy specialty items to bring home or sit down to a farm fresh meal of your choice (and believe me, there are plenty choices). 

The first floor has stalls that sell poultry, vegetables, fruits, nuts, bread etc.

Some other sections include the gelato and chocolate stall, the pizza and pasta stall, the meat stall, the fruit and vegetable stall, and many more. Each individual ‘laboratory’ showcases Italian specialities from all over the country, and allows you to see the process first hand with clear glass windows that reveal what really happens behind the scenes. You can watch how bread is made, how the famous bufala cheese is handcrafted, or even watch how artisan gelato is still made from scratch. This new floor of the market is not only a hub for food but also for Italian culture and history.

Many traditional Italian street food can be found at the second storey.

Many of the specialty items represent a different method of production, dating back in time, calling upon old Italian cultural traditions. The pizza stand is not any old pizza that you will find anywhere in Florence but is made in the traditional Neapolitan way, where the pizza is said to have been invented. Watch how the famous mozzarella di bufala is still formed in the classic method, as it is still made in Southern Italian today. By allowing visitors to see the production and engage in the process of artisan culinary traditions, the new Central Market acts as a cultural center for culinary traditions throughout Italy. This is especially unique for those of us who don’t have enough time to see all of Italy because we can learn about the various parts of the country without setting foot outside of Florence.

da Nerbone

Tucked away at a corner of the first floor lies a hidden gem - the best burger we'd tasted! da Nerbone has long queues, but definitely worth the wait. Go early, as they tend to sell out fast. Ordering it for the first time is no easy feat, the menu was so confusing, but do not let it deter you. You simply place your order and pay at a separate counter, then try your very best to make eye contact with the man behind the meat bar counter who will be serving you. Remember to get his attention the best you know how, else you could end up waiting for a long time for your orders even after you'd paid. We tried both the Tripe burger and the Boiled Beef sandwich, and we prefer the Tripe burger (they are famous for their Tripe burger after all). Request for more chilli, you will not regret it. And get ready some napkins because it can get pretty messy.