Florence’s Central Market, also known as the San Lorenzo Market, brings together everyday food shopping and places to eat in one historic building. You’ll find fresh produce and other market staples on the ground floor, with restaurants and food shops upstairs. It’s about a one-minute walk from Emerald Palace, making the market an easy nearby stop.
Where Florence’s Central Market Is
The market’s address is Piazza del Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento, 50123 Firenze. The building occupies the area between Via dell’Ariento, Via Sant’Antonino, Via Santa Chiara and Via Panicale, in the San Lorenzo district.
Its iron, cast-iron and glass structure was designed by Giuseppe Mengoni. The market building was inaugurated in 1874 during an international agricultural exhibition, and remains a prominent part of the neighbourhood’s food scene.
What to Find Inside the Market
Start on the ground floor for the traditional market. Stalls sell fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and bread, and you can also taste food there. The open food hall on the first floor offers a different mix: delicatessen shops and restaurants in a covered space.
The City of Florence describes that upper-floor food hall as a 3,250-square-metre space with artisan food shops, a restaurant, a pizzeria, a bar and a café. If you’re choosing between the floors, the ground level is geared towards market produce, while upstairs offers a wider range of places to sit and eat.
Central Market Hours and Market Days
- Hours
- Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, with Sund
Opening hours vary between published listings, so plan with some flexibility. For the ground-floor market, the City of Florence lists Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 15:00, and Saturday and days before holidays from 07:00 to 17:00.
The Florence tourism board gives different hours: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, with Sundays and public holidays closed.
For the first-floor food hall, the City of Florence lists daily hours of 10:00 to midnight. The tourism board lists 08:00 to 00:00 daily, while the market operator lists 09:00 to 23:00 daily. These differences matter if you’re planning around an early visit or a late meal. Check the market operator’s official site before you go.
What to Know Before You Visit
The food hall is on the building’s first floor. The market operator says restrooms are near the two entrances. During lunch and dinner periods, all tables are reserved for customers who purchase from the food stalls, so buy food before settling at a table.
There’s also an outdoor San Lorenzo market nearby, but it has a different focus: its stalls mainly sell clothing, leather goods, objects and souvenirs. That makes it a natural addition if you want to browse beyond food.
Nearby Sights in San Lorenzo
The Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels are nearby landmarks in the district. You can pair a visit to the market with a look around the basilica and square; for details on the church and its history, see this guide to the Basilica di San Lorenzo and Medici Chapel.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is another Florence church to consider while planning time in the city. Find practical information in this Santa Maria Novella visitor guide.
Getting There from Santa Maria Novella Station
The market operator places Mercato Centrale 900 metres from Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station. If you’re arriving by public transport, the operator lists buses 1, 6, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23, 36, 37, C2 and C4 as serving stops close to the market, as well as nearby tram lines T1 and T2. Services can change, so check the relevant transport operator’s information before setting out.