My first attempt at navigating Florence’s food culture as a study abroad student.

When I went to the markets for the first time, I thought it would be a quick in-and-out trip to get some fresh produce and a cool way to experience the local Florentine way of shopping, then go about cooking an authentic Italian meal. A few minutes later, I was standing in front of the meat counter trying to remember what “un etto” meant, realizing this was going to take much longer than I originally thought. I quickly realized the markets are meant to be savored slowly. It is normal to take your time with each vendor, ask questions about the produce, and enjoy the ambiance.

Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio

Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is Florence’s oldest and most authentic food market with numerous vendors offering fresh meat, pasta, cheese, bread, and much more than just food. It felt like the perfect spot to get a feel for the local life and to see where many Florentines shop on the regular. On one side they have produce vendors lined and on the other you can find vintage items, everyday household goods, leather and fur jackets, and shoes. Dating back to 1973, Sant’Ambrogio is full of history and traditional Tuscan dishes.Trattoria da Rocco and Lampredotto are perfect spots tucked within to sit down and enjoy the taste of Florence. My first encounter with an italian market definitely led me to experience some culture shock, but now that I’ve been a few times and become accustomed to the differences in shopping, I’ve come to love shopping like Italians do. 

THE CULTURE SHOCK

When I got to the first counter to get meat for my meal, I knew I wanted ground beef but wasn’t ready to differentiate the different types in Italian nor was I confident in the wording of how to ask which one was which in Italian. At that moment, I tried to rack my brain and remember my Italian teacher telling us which measurement was used for ordering a portion of meat and ended up looking like a very lost American student. Luckily, the vendors just want to help and if you try to speak Italian they will meet you halfway. 

Looking back, it wasn’t overwhelming, it was just new to me. Eating in Italy isn’t just something people do out of necessity, it’s intentional and centered around connection. One of the biggest differences was that in the US grocery shopping is a very transactional process and in Italy you stop and greet the vendors, the locals know them and have conversations. I’ve noticed I pay more attention to the quality of food and I enjoy knowing where my food is sourced from rather than quickly grabbing what is easiest. Now, I look forward to my biweekly trip to Mercato Di Sant’Ambrogio or just heading over to eat lunch between classes. 
Created by: Lela Warnock and Mariella Silvia