Piazza die Ciompi depicted here, along with San Lorenzo leather market and Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio host one of the many markets in Florence. Countless treasures; everything from antiques, leather goods, an amazing variety of fresh, typically organic fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses of all sorts, cheap clothing, and a immediate submersion into the sounds and smells of Italian cultures. This is one of the only places I can experience the authenticity of Florence, these markets force me to speak Italian which is a rarity since this city flourishes with English speaking people and establishments.

Nice Lunch. 

This is the oldest market in Florence, it takes place in Piazza Santo Spirito the 3rd sunday of the month (except for August and December) from 8am to sundown (which can be from 4 pm to 7pm depending on the season). All the people that sells in this market are local farmers from Tuscany and the products on display are all made using natural or ancient methods without the use of synthetic products. The products admitted to Fierucola are characterized by their simplicity & originality, inspired by agricultural and artisan traditions, especially those who are disappearing. Everything is produced in small scale, following the seasons. You can find a vast array of things here, from spices, vegetables and fruit, cheese, bread, vegan products, jam and preserves, hand made shoes, dried flowers, wire and straw basket, plants and textiles, flours, fermented beverages, miso, jewelry, pottery and wooden toys for kids. If you don't like this kind of shopping, this event still deserves a visit if you like to do people-watching. This is the place where you'll find most of the florentine people on sunday morning.

The Museum takes its name from its creator, one of the most famous Italian antiquarian of the late nineteenth century, who after years of intense commercial activity, decided to transform his collection into a museum and donate it to the City of Florence in 1922. Stefano Bardini was a famous art dealer who collected objects of different periods and of high quality. Bardini contributed to spreading the myth of the Italian Renaissance throughout the world and showed great interest in all forms of art, which is one of the reasons to visit the collections: over 2000 pieces including sculptures, paintings, furniture pieces, ceramic pieces, tapestries and objects from ancient art to the eighteenth century. It's also possible to admire some fragments of the old centre of Florence, salvaged before destruction. Inside the museum, everything is on display as it was at the time when Stefano Bardini worked as an antique dealer. The pieces are not grouped by historical period, but are put on display according to the taste of Bardini, so as to better accentuate the beauty of the pieces. Even the building itself is remarkable for its use of doors, windows and the fact that many of the room are painted in a bright electric blue. It doesn't usually appear in the guides (so it's not crowded) and you'll never find it on the MUST VISIT museum list, but it's worth a visit. The visit (depending on whether you are running or deciding to take it easy) takes approximately between 1h and 2:30.

My favourite café in Florence, where you can not only drink coffee (if you lucky enough, you'll get it in ToiletPaper mug), but also buy some designer objects (including ToiletPaper gems) or flowers and plants, and, in the evening, listen to live piano music, sitting at the loooong wooden table. Everything five minutes from the Santa Maria del Fiore.