Selling fruit, vegetables and all manner of other foodstuffs for one and a half centuries, the neighbourhood is defined by the striking 19th-century iron and glass pavilion by Giuseppe Mengoni. Inspired by Paris’ central fresh food market, Les Halles, the structure bears some similarities to the architect’s famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. The San Lorenzo Mercato Centrale opened in 1874 on the occasion of the International Exposition of Agriculture, a loggia with ten classic arcades and slender pietra serena columns extended outwards on each side of the building. Butchers, bakeries and fishmongers all occupied their own dedicated areas, while greengrocers were situated in the triangular-shaped piazza until 1979, when they moved to the first floor of the building. In 2014, the first floor was taken over by entrepreneur Umberto Montano, transforming it into an artisanal food court.
“We thank all the neighbourhood’s institutions and associations for having taken part in creating the 150th anniversary events calendar,” commented Massimo Manetti, president of Consorzio dello Storico Mercato Centrale.
“The celebration belongs to the entire city because the market is an open space for the whole community. Above all, I want to thank all the stallholders at the Storico Mercato Centrale, who generation to generation have rolled up their sleeves to allow Florentines to carry on shopping and bring the best produce to their tables in the best possible conditions and, as a result, to attract residents back to the centre.”
