In the beginning, I thought it was Quadrilatero in Bologna.
Then Albinelli in Modena.
Later Testaccio in Rome or San Lorenzo in Florence.
I had a huge crash for Piscaria in Catania.
Now I think I’ve seen the best food market in Italy.
This:
It’s Mercato Centrale in Livorno, Tuscany.
Well, not the “Tuscany” you immediately think of.
This vibrant port city is famous for its passionate football fans and its signature fish soup, cacciucco.
So why its Mercato Centrale is one of the best food markets I’ve seen in Italy?
The impressive size
Built in 1894 following the model of the old Parisian Halles, it is the second largest market in Europe.The food
Butchers, bakeries, seafood. Ask and you will get it. A must-try? The stunning 5&5 chickpea sandwich.The atmosphere
Impossible to describe with words, hard to get from a video. You feel life pulsing inside Mercato Centrale. From the shop owners yelling to the old ladies waiting in line, you are on a theatre stage.
The best in Italy, if you like this kind of opera.
What’s new
A brand new tortellini making class in Bologna is out.
1 hour of rolling, folding and eating Venus’s belly button, with a view on the market.
Get a 5% discount using the code VENUS if you book until Sept 2024.From Togas to Telegraphs: A new blog post about the fascinating evolution of Bologna's Salaborsa
All for now, but more to come next month.
Thanks so much for reading so far.
Un abbraccio,
Andrea
PS
This is my first newsletter on Substack. You might have noticed changes in the background, font, header, and sender address.
If you're reading this in your inbox, it's already a huge success!
Ciao Andrea, the page display is good and all of the links work. King regards, Martin.