Market and Markets in Tuscany
Shopping in the market in Tuscany
The markets usually take place weekly.
The setting up of the stalls begins in the morning between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., the market usually ends around 13:00 p.m. to 14:00 p.m.
The regular markets take place on the following days (mornings):
Markets in Tuscany
| City | Market day | Time of day | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence (Sant'Ambrogio) | Monday to Saturday | 07:00-14:00 | Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti |
| Florence (Cascine) | Tuesday | 07:00-14:00 | Cascine Park |
| Florence (Fierucola) | Third Sunday of the month | 09:00-19:00 | Piazza Santo Spirito |
| Florence (Piazza dell'indipendenza) | Third Saturday and Sunday of the month | 08:30-13:00 | Independence Square |
| Siena (La Lizza) | Wednesday | 08:30-13:00 | Via La Lizza |
| Siena (Antiques) | Third Sunday of the month | full-time | Market Square |
| Arezzo | Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Viale Giotto |
| Arezzo (Antiques) | First Sunday (and Saturday before) of the month | full-time | city center |
| Greve in Chianti | Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Matteotti |
| Greve in Chianti (Il Pagliaio) | Fourth Sunday of the month | 09:00-14:00 | Piazza Matteotti |
| Panzano in Chianti | Sunday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Bucciarelli |
| Panzano (Aprilante) | First Sunday of the month | 09:00-15:00 | Panzano in Chianti |
| Strada in Chianti | Tuesday | 08:30-13:00 | Strada in Chianti |
| Cortona | Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Signorelli |
| Pisa (Vettovaglie) | Monday to Saturday | 08:30-16:00 | Piazza delle Vettovaglie |
| Pisa (Via Paparelli) | Wednesday & Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Via Alberto Paparelli |
| Pisa (San Martino) | Wednesday & Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Via San Martino |
| Pienza | Friday | 08:30-13:00 | Via Mencattelli |
| San Gimignano | Thursday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Duomo |
| San Gimignano (Il Mercatale) | Second Sunday of the month | 09:30-19:00 | Piazza delle Erbe |
| Montalcino | Friday | 08:30-13:00 | Via della Libertà |
| Montepulciano | Thursday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Pietro Nenni |
| Forte dei Marmi | Wednesday | 08:00-14:00 | Piazza Guglielmo Marconi |
| Forte dei Marmi (Antiques) | Second Sunday (and Saturday before) of the month | full-time | city center |
| Pietrasanta | Thursday | 08:30-13:00 | Statuto Square |
| Viareggio | Thursday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Cavour |
| Livorno (Vettovaglie) | Monday to Saturday | 08:00-14:00 | Via Buontalenti |
| Livorno | Monday to Saturday | 08:00-13:00 | Cavallotti Square |
| Livorno (Antiques) | First Sunday of the month | full-time | Piazza Cavour |
| Grosseto | Thursday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazzale De Maria |
| Grosseto (Antiques) | Fourth Sunday of the month | full-time | Piazza Stefano de Maria |
| Castiglione della Pescaia | Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazza Ponte Giorgini |
| Porto Ercole | Monday | 08:30-13:00 | Via San Rocco |
| Porto Santo Stefano | Tuesday | 08:30-13:00 | Piazzale Sant'Andrea |
| Orbetello | Saturday | 08:30-13:00 | Via Caravaggio |
| Lucca | Third Saturday and Sunday of the month | full-time | city center |
| buonconvento | Saturday | 08:30-12:30 | city center |
What else you should know about the markets in Tuscany
The markets are one of the main attractions in Tuscany. Almost every place has a regular market - from the daily sales event in Florence to the fish market in Livorno to the weekly market in Castiglione della Pescaia. In most places the markets take place on different days; so it is possible to visit a different market every day if necessary.
While fish markets often take place on the coast, the markets in the larger cities are almost comparable to grocer's or junk markets in terms of the variety of offers. In the villages, on the other hand, there are mostly farmers' markets or markets with a selection of local specialties; a visit here during harvest times is particularly worthwhile. Ultimately, the decision on which market to go to is a matter of taste. It is always an entertaining experience - especially on vacation. So this is also a good opportunity to get a little insight into the mentality of Tuscan traders.
Since the markets are generally located in the city center, you should be prepared for the possibility of not finding a prime parking spot when arriving and choosing a parking area. This may involve a longer walk from the parking lot, which you can combine with exploring the market. Please remember not to leave valuables in your car and avoid giving opportunistic thieves any opportunities in the crowded market!
Plagiarism and copies
Incidentally, in Tuscany, especially in the larger markets, you'll often find counterfeit goods from brand-name manufacturers like Louis Vuitton or Gucci. You'll be able to tell from the price that these are definitely not genuine, even if the fakes sometimes look very authentic. Under German law, you are only allowed to purchase these illegal copies under very specific conditions. For example, the total quantity must not exceed €300 (the actual price paid at your holiday destination, if returning by car), and the number of items must remain within a "manageable" range.
However, we advise you to focus your attention on other things. The plagiarism is often not worth the price, which unfortunately most customers find out a short time later. In addition, these are not Tuscan products. They prefer to use the opportunity to purchase products from Tuscany. You can usually get them fresh and cheap on the market. And where is it more fun than shopping in Tuscany at a real traditional Tuscan market in an attractive ambience?
