Mercato Centrale di Firenze

One of Florence’s most beautiful and beloved covered food markets recently became even more of an attraction with the addition of restaurants, shops, a cooking school, library and artisanal vendors. Among the goodies in the iconic Renaissance building: local salami and freshly made pasta, mozzarella di bufala from Caserta, homemade ice-cream and regional wines. The cooking school offers courses throughout the year, and there are plenty of individual gourmet stalls offering supplies for impromptu picnics on the Arno.