Browsing San Miniato markets

San Miniato markets are a pretext for tasting local foodstuffs and sensing the passing of the seasons in a town that is off the main tourist circuit. Most local markets and food festivals are lovely, whether held in San Miniato Alto (the Upper Town) or in San Miniato Basso (the Lower Town). For truffle-hounds, the finest feast is November’s White Truffle Festival, the Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco di San Miniato. Summer visitors can attend the Notte Nera (`the Black Night’ festival) in mid-June, which pays tribute the white truffle’s black twin. Black truffles may be less prized but are still wonderful, are better-priced, and work with a wider range of dishes.

If not around for a truffle experience, come for the weekly market on Tuesday morning, on Piazzale Dante Alighieri. Best of all is Il Mercatale di San Miniato, the Slow Food-approved farmers market.
Il Mercatale is the essence of San Miniato, an engaging farmers market that showcases the best local produce. Come for the scents, smells and lively atmosphere of this foodie market. On display is an array of fruit, meat, cheeses, honey, bread, pastries, olive oil and other local produce supplied by artisan producers in the surrounding countryside. Il Mercatale, also known as Il Mercato della Terra di San Miniato, is held on Piazzale Dante Alighieri on the third Sunday of every month. An antiques market, the Mercatino del Antiquariato, takes place on the first Sunday of the month.