Mercatone della Cascine

Hello friends! Very little to speak about as of tonight, I've been exploring the streets of Florence with little in mind as to what to see or do. Wandering and getting lost has been one of my favorite things to do in this city--it's exciting to find all of the piazzas that scatter the city and simply travel with the intent of adventure! I feel like I'm slowly getting to know this city well. The Arno remains one of my favorite parts of Florence... I can walk over Ponte alla Carraia and still want to stop and smile at the cityscape beyond the bridges. Even though I've been here over three weeks, I'm still amazed I get to live here!!

There are many things in Florence I've been told to see! The markets are always brought up in conversation and we found what might be the largest market in florence located in Cascine. I've been researching other markets in the city and I discovered a Rare Book market on Thursdays neighboring a Flower Market on the same day!!! I'm planning my Thursday trip as I type this :)

I didn't take many pictures at il Mercatone della Cascine, the market itself was fun to see however not entirely up my alley: the market was huge! however three-fourths of the booths set up were clothing and shoe booths. The sets that caught my attention the most were the few fruits and vegetable booths. There were also a couple of flower venders which I might have spent most of my time at! (In attempts to learn some of the Italian names of the herbs and perennials I grew up with!)

Although the market was great to see, I was far more interested in Cascine itself! After edging your way out of the crowds, you would see where the market is actually located... In an extremely beautiful part of Florence, the Cascine park which is the largest park in the city! I didn't have enough time to explore the park today, though I'm hoping to return soon (on any day other than Tuesday!) to hang out in that park.. It was right on the Arno which of course I absolutely adored!

That's all I've got for today! I'm going to be hiking in the mountains just outside Florence tomorrow so I'll post something interesting then! And something for the markets on Thursday! Ciao!

(We pass by walls like these, with simply stunning architecture, fairly frequently. It still blows me away!! The gates in the city are beautiful.)