Walks of Italy takes Italian food seriously. We want to share our love for it with you. You will enjoy our guides on Italian food. Take a look at our Rome Food Tour and Florence Food Tour. Venice Food Tour. Pasta Making Classes.
Italian cities have a lot to offer, and food markets are one of the best. You can learn a lot about the local culture by visiting their food markets. They are also a great place to find out what’s in season. (Read our blog post to learn more about how to eat seasonalally in Italy). However, it can be difficult to find markets. To catch them in full swing, you need to know where and when to go. We’ve got your back. These are our top five favorite markets in Rome and Florence.
Ballaro food market, Palermo
Simona, our Walks Traveler, took a video tour of this market because we love it so much! The market is a thousand years old and features stall after stall of food, offering every type of (in season!) food! Fresh ricotta and artichokes, snails as well as lamb shanks, squash, and spices are just a few of the many types of produce available at this market. The prices are also excellent.
Even if you don’t go grocery shopping, it’s worth a visit to take in the authentic atmosphere, as well as to purchase street food: pane con panelle, sfincione and arancine are just a few of the tasty foods that you can get right there. Check out Simona’s street food video! ).
The Ballaro food marketplace is located at Palazzo Reale and is open every day except Sunday. You can find out more about Palermo by reading our city guide.
Rialto fish market, Venice
For centuries, Venice’s finest restaurants have been getting fresh fish from this market. The fish market is located in San Polo at the Campo della Pescaria. It features stall after stall full of fishermen selling their catch caught in the lagoon. If you want to enjoy the whole experience, get there early. The market opens at 7am and closes at 2pm. Those who are well-informed come first thing in morning to grab their catch.
Keep in mind that the market is closed Sunday and Monday. Venetians don’t order fish from restaurants on Mondays because it is unlikely that the fish will be fresh. Our is a must-read! ).
The Rialto fishmarket is located in San Polo Campo della Pescaria and is open every day except Sunday and Monday.
You want to visit the Rialto fishmarket with a local Venetian guide. Take a look at our Venice food adventure!
Pignasecca food market, Naples
Pignasecca is Naples’ oldest outdoor food market. This is quite remarkable considering that Naples boasts over 60 markets! Pignasecca is well-known for its low-cost, seasonal produce and its excellent pastries, cheeses and breads. There are endless opportunities to see Neapolitans shopping for food and eating their food.
Pignasecca Market is open daily on Via Pignasecca. You can find more delicious food options near Naples’ train station by visiting our website.
Campo dei Fiori market, Rome
This is without doubt the most vibrant market in Rome’s central storico. The beautiful square was once a place for public executions. Today, it is bustling with vendors selling produce and oils, vinegars, spices, as well as other random goods (from teaspoons to espresso makers). The outdoor market opens at 7:30 AM. Vendors begin putting away their goods in the afternoon. You can see the market in action in the video above. Skip to 1:40 to get to Campo dei Fiori. ).
If you’re looking to meet local vendors, enjoy tastings at the market, as well as visiting authentic food shops nearby and learning how to make a real pizza in Rome, check out our Rome food adventure.
The Campo dei Fiori Market is located on the same piazza. It is open every day except Sunday.
Sant’Ambrogio food market, Florence
Sant’Ambrogio is a neighborhood in Florence that is about 12 minutes from Florence’s Duomo. It is one of Florence’s oldest neighborhoods. It’s still one of Florence’s oldest neighborhoods. Every day, locals flock to this market to purchase produce, breads, cheeses and meats as well as furniture and clothing. The Mercato Centrale is the most popular destination for tourists and tour groups. This makes it a more casual place to shop, as well as a great spot to watch people. It’s also closed on Sundays and closes at 2pm every other day, except Wednesday and Friday, when it is open until 7pm.
Piazza Ghiberti is the location of Sant’Ambrogio’s market. It’s open every day except Sunday. The Sant’Ambrogio market is located at Piazza Ghiberti and is open every day except Sunday.
