Squares and Markets in Florence



Since the Middle Ages, squares have played an important role in people`s everyday life. In a square one can transact and conclude business, meet relatives and friends and attend public events or religious ceremonies. In short, you can speak of religious, civic and business squares, depending on their function.

In Dante`s town, like in any other town in the world, in the shadows of palaces and historic residences there is plenty of public spaces, the most important certainly being:
  • Piazza del Duomo, which stretches in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and has recently been closed to motor vehicles. On Easter Sunday, it hosts the "Scoppio del carro", a ceremony that attracts thousands of Florentines and tourists to the square;

  • Piazza della Signoria, which opens between Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi, just a few metres before the Uffizi Gallery;

  • Piazza di San Lorenzo, which hosts the most picturesque Florentine street market (where, apart from leather goods, you can buy sandwiches with trippa and lampredotto, the traditional Florentine street food).

These, however, are just some of the squares you should visit during your holidays by the Arno River.

Surrounded by the Florentine apartments north-east of Santa Croce, lies Piazza dei Ciompi, which is especially renowned for its flea market, where you can find antique and bric-a-brac items.

Last but not least, the Florentine villas situated on the left bank of the Arno, after Ponte alla Vittoria, overlook the Park of the Cascine and the market it hosts on Tuesdays mornings.

 

Our most requested apartments in the Florence historical centre:
Villa Gavinana Holiday apartments in pretty villa on the southern outskirts of Florence, in the vicinity of Piazzale Michelangelo. Accommodation for groups of 4/6/8/10/12 people. Air conditioning, Internet connection. Just a few minutes from Florence historical centre. More details
Apartment Fiore Beautiful apartment sleeping 6+2 in Florence historic centre, at a stone`s throw from Santa Maria Novella railway station. Air conditioning, Internet connection and panoramic balcony with view over the Duomo and the Medici Chapels. More details
Apartment Panorama Apartment sleeping 2+1 in the heart of Florence historic centre, in the district of Santa Croce. Panoramic balcony with view over the basilica of Santa Croce, air conditioning, Internet connection, close to the most important Florentine monuments. More details
Accademia Gallery Apartment Apartment in the historical centre of Florence a few steps away from the Accademia Gallery. Nearby Piazza Duomo, Piazza Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery . 5+2 beds, Internet Connection and air conditioning. More details