Tuscany’s markets aren’t all about food. Check out this guide to the best places to pick up an antique or piece of art for a more authentic souvenir.
Florence
Mercato delle Pulci, in Florence’s Piazza dei Ciompi, is a daily flea market selling furniture, antiques, prints, coins, jewellery, bric-a-brac and antiquarian books. There is even more to browse on the last Sunday of every month, except during August, when extra stalls are added.
Siena
Piazza del Mercato is filled with stalls selling antiques and bric-a-brac on the third Sunday of the month, except during August. The old marketplace in which it is set is also worth seeing; it’s known as Il Tartarugone because the roof looks like the shell of a tortoise.
Lucca
Lucca’s antiques market is a local favourite. You’ll find it by the Cathedral of San Martino on the third weekend of the month. Meanwhile, on the same weekend, contemporary art and sculpture created by local creatives are showcased at Mostra Piazzetta dell’Arte, an open-air exhibition staged at Piazzetta San Carlo and Piazzetta dell’Arancio.
Arezzo
Fiera Antiquaria draws more than 400 exhibitors from across Italy to the city on the last Saturday and first Sunday of each month. No wonder this famous antiques market, held in the city centre, is a big hit with collectors.
Pistoia
The former Breda engineering factory, in Via Pertini, provides an unusual location for this market, which sells antiques, bric-a-brac and contemporary art on the second weekend of every month.
Perugia
Ceramics and antique costume jewellery are among the highlights for browsers at Perugia’s monthly market. It takes place in the Palazzo della Prefettura in summer and Rocca Paolina in winter.
