Florence Craft Market Sunday: What to Know Before You Go
Sunday markets in Florence
Sunday in Florence has a different pace from the rest of the week. The city is quieter in the morning, the traffic thins out, and several neighbourhoods come alive with outdoor markets that draw both locals and visitors.
The markets range from large weekly events to smaller monthly gatherings. Some focus on craft goods, handmade objects, and artisan products. Others are a mix of new goods, second-hand items, clothing, and food. A few are genuinely interesting; others are mainly tourist-facing.
This guide covers the ones worth your time, with practical information on what you will find, how much things cost, and how to get there using Florence’s public transport network.
Mercato delle Cascine: the biggest
The Cascine market is the largest outdoor market in Florence. It runs every Tuesday morning, and on certain Sundays it extends into a larger format that includes craft goods, clothing, food, and a broader selection of goods than the weekday version.
Wait, you said Sunday. Let me clarify: the regular Cascine market runs on Tuesdays from around 08:00 to 14:00. On certain Sunday dates, an expanded version takes place, sometimes combined with seasonal events. Check the current Florence municipality website or local listings before making a special trip.
The market occupies the Parco delle Cascine, a long park that runs along the north bank of the Arno, roughly 2.5 km west of the city centre. The park itself is worth visiting regardless of the market; it is the largest public park in the city at about 118 hectares.
At the market you will find food stalls selling fresh vegetables, cheese, cured meats, bread, and olive oil. Clothing stalls sell everything from work trousers to linen shirts at prices well below boutique level. Craft stalls, when present, offer leather goods, ceramics, wooden objects, and printed fabric.
To get there from the city centre: take tram line T1 from Santa Maria Novella station to the Cascine stop. Journey time is about 10 minutes. Alternatively, take bus 17 from the station.
The Piazza dei Ciompi market
The Piazza dei Ciompi flea market in the Sant’Ambrogio neighbourhood is one of the most authentic markets in the city. It has operated in this piazza for decades and on most days of the week you will find a permanent set of stalls selling second-hand goods, antique items, old books, prints, and curiosities.
On the last Sunday of each month, the market expands significantly. Additional stalls fill the piazza and surrounding streets, and the range of goods widens to include vintage clothing, collectible objects, old ceramics, photography, vinyl records, and handmade craft items.
This is not a market where everything is polished and priced for tourists. You will find genuine second-hand items alongside proper antiques, and prices are negotiable. A print that might cost 40 euros at a gallery shop might be found here for 10 to 15 euros.
The piazza is located on Via Pietrapiana, about a 15-minute walk from the Duomo. Bus line 14 stops nearby. From Santa Maria Novella station, the walk takes around 20 minutes through the centre, or take bus 23.
What you find and at what prices
Markets in Florence vary considerably in what they offer. Here is a general breakdown of what to expect in terms of goods and prices across the Sunday markets.
Food and produce: Fresh vegetables at Florence markets are significantly cheaper than in supermarkets. A bunch of fresh basil costs around 0.50 to 1 euro. Seasonal tomatoes run at 1.50 to 2 euros per kilogram. Aged Pecorino Toscano sells for 12 to 18 euros per kilogram depending on the producer. Small jars of local honey cost 4 to 8 euros.
Craft and artisan goods: Handmade ceramic plates and bowls range from 8 to 30 euros depending on size and complexity. Leather wallets at craft stalls cost 20 to 50 euros. Printed scarves and fabric goods start around 10 euros. Hand-bound notebooks made with marbled paper, which is a Florentine craft tradition, cost 8 to 20 euros.
Second-hand and vintage: Old prints and maps at Piazza dei Ciompi range from 5 euros for a small reproduction to 80 or 100 euros for an original 19th-century piece. Vintage clothing prices vary widely. Vinyl records at 3 to 10 euros are common. Old postcards and photographs sell for 0.50 to 3 euros each.
What to avoid: Markets near the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria sell goods that are labelled as artisan but are often mass-produced. Leather goods made in China are common. The price of an item is not a reliable indicator of its origin. Look for stalls where the maker is present and can describe how the piece was made.
How to get there by public transport
Florence’s public transport network is run by ATAF and includes buses and two tram lines. A single-journey ticket costs 1.70 euros and is valid for 90 minutes from first validation. You can buy tickets at tabacchi (tobacco shops), newsagents, and from machines at major bus stops.
For the Cascine market area: tram T1 departs from Santa Maria Novella station every 7 to 10 minutes. The Cascine stop is 4 stops from the station. The tram runs from around 05:30 to midnight on most days.
For Piazza dei Ciompi: the most direct bus is line 14, which runs through the city centre and stops near Via Pietrapiana. From Santa Maria Novella station, lines 6, 11, and C2 (centre minibus) also pass nearby depending on your starting point. The walk through the centre is also pleasant and takes around 20 minutes at a relaxed pace.
For the Santo Spirito monthly antique market (which also runs on Sundays): cross the Ponte Vecchio or the Ponte Santa Trinita and walk south into Oltrarno. The piazza is about 25 minutes on foot from Santa Maria Novella station. Bus C3 also connects from the centre.
Florence’s historic centre is relatively compact, and for many market locations, walking is the most straightforward option if you are staying centrally.
Tips for a Sunday morning at the market
Arrive early. The best items at flea markets and craft fairs go in the first hour. For the Piazza dei Ciompi expanded Sunday market, being there at 09:00 rather than 11:00 makes a real difference in what you will find.
Bring cash. Most market stalls in Florence do not accept cards. Some have a reader but connectivity is unreliable in outdoor settings. Take 50 to 80 euros in mixed denominations if you plan to buy.
Carry a bag. Most stalls do not provide bags, or provide thin plastic ones that are inadequate for anything fragile. A small cloth bag or a tote takes up no space and is genuinely useful.
Sunscreen and water if you are going in summer. The Cascine park has shade from the trees, but Piazza dei Ciompi is largely open. In August, market mornings start early precisely because the afternoons are too hot to browse comfortably.
Where to stay
The Key is on Via Cittadella 22, five minutes from Santa Maria Novella station. Tram line T1 to the Cascine market runs directly from the station, making Sunday morning market visits easy without any long commute.
The Sant’Ambrogio area, where the Piazza dei Ciompi market takes place, is about 25 minutes on foot from the guesthouse through the centre.
