San Lorenzo Market - Mercato Centrale

The San Lorenzo Market is very popular for those, tourists and not, who are looking for food and wine experiences. In this building there are two markets, corresponding to the 2 floors:

• Ground floor:fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and bread sellers. You also have the chance to taste on site.
• First floor: the "Mercato Centrale" hosts delicatessen shops and restaurants with different vocation, in an open space, until midnight.

The complex building has an imposing stucture (made of iron, cast iron and glass) built in the 19th century when a complete new design of the historic centre has been put on. Between 1865 and 1871, infact, Florence became the new capital of the Kingdom of Italy and took on its present appearance, clearly inspired by the great European capitals, Paris first.

The Market was built in a wide area (within: Via dell’Ariento, Via S. Antonino, Via Santa  Chiara and Via Panicale) destroying the existing residential structures. The interesting project was by Giuseppe Mengoni (the same author of the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, in Milan), and it was inaugurated in 1874 during an International Agricultural Exhibition.