There is no better way to experience the heart of italian culture than through food. Where though, can you find the best ingredients to add to your favorite dish? Welcome to the Mercato centrale, Florence’s largest fresh food
market known for its wide selection of food ranging from meats and fish to fruits and vegetables. the food in the Mercato centrale, or
central Market, is the freshest in town and much less expensive than typical food stores. Located on
via dell’Ariento, the central Market resembles a massive factory or warehouse-type building with green and red shutters. Standing two stories high in the midst of the
San Lorenzo open-air market, you will not be able to miss it. Before i reveal some interesting details, a quick breakdown of the market is necessary in order to navigate through the isles of seemingly endless food vendors. the central Market has two floors of food stands run by individual vendors. you will find the tip of the food pyramid, meat, poultry, fish and cheese, on the first floor. Working your way down the pyramid are fruits and vegetables, which can be found on the second floor. Also on the second floor is a mixture of dried fruits and nuts. i point this out because it is an easy and cheap way to create your own trail mix and makes a great snack for traveling. Last but not least, bread and pasta are on both floors. there is a limited amount of pre-packaged food. the vendors pride themselves on the quality of their food, and sell only the freshest to their customers. Butchers, for example, display their meats in a window case and will chop your order right there on the counter. They sell your basic meats like turkey and steak, but if you want to be daring try some Fiorentine classics like tripe, prosciutto, wild boar or mortadella. Likewise, you will see whole chickens in the window cases that are cut depending on the pieces you order. i should, however, warn you about one minor detail. Because there are about ten stands for each product, the vendors must compete with one another for customers. “Decorating” their venues to attract shoppers’ attention, they often use their own products. various meats hang from the counters on the first floor. you might even see the body parts of a pig, for example, including its head, foot and snout. the second floor is less intense. vendors usually create hanging ornaments with peppers and onions or different fruits to decorate their area. needless to say, you might want to skip the first floor if you are a
vegetarian. if not, brace your stomach! My personal favorite is the cheese vendors. their selection ranges from buffalo mozzarella and pecorino to asiago and gorgonzola. Most of the vendors will offer to let you try a sample. the fresh fish selection is similar to that of the meats in that you can basically find anything from under the sea. the fish looks and smells as though it was caught and imported hours before, probably because it was. All of this food shopping might make you hungry. in that case, head to the first floor where you can find a few
restaurants and a small sit-down area. you can get
italian style dishes such as trippa alla fiorentina, roast beef, zucchini risotto and tortellini di verdure for great prices. the menus change almost daily so are sure to get a taste of something new each time you go. there are also cafés and bars to get a shot of caffeine before or after you shop. Scattered throughout the market are other italian delicacies. you will find the best olive oil, vinegar, and wine as well as spices, herbs, packaged pasta and desserts—all great souvenirs. the packaged pastas come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are an economical gift to bring home if you are a
student on a budget.
[Lindsay Straub]
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