Mercado Centrale, Florence

Stating the obvious, one of the most wonderful and exciting things about living in Italy is the food. Italian cuisine does not rely on complicated techniques or exotic combinations of flavors to please the palate, but rather the simple combination of local, fresh ingredients. This, of course, requires a steady source of fresh produce, meats, and cheeses with which to cook. The city center of Florence is home to such a place, the Mercado Centrale. Located in the environs of the Church of San Lorenzo, northwest of the Duomo, the market is housed in a large, two story building that covers an entire city block. The streets surrounding the building are filled with vendors selling various goods, predominantly leather products. The ground floor of the food market is home to vendors that sell meat, cheese, seafood, wine, and various other foodstuffs. There are also several cafes on the ground floor where one can get a delicious lunch at a cheap price. The upper floor is filled entirely with fresh nuts, olives, vegetables and fruits. The market is a great place to buy all of these things, but it is very enjoyable simply to walk around and admire the various displays of food.

Will Wingfield