Throughout my first four weeks living in Florence, Italy, I have been shopping for groceries almost two or three times per week. I’ve learned that everything is sold in lower quantities because there aren’t as many preservatives in the food here. My mom says two kinds of people go grocery shopping everyday, Europeans and New Yorkers. I have quickly adapted to being at the grocery store every other day to prevent my salami and cherries from rotting.
Conad Grocery Stores
Every time I step into a Conad grocery store it reminds me that I’m 5,000 miles away from home. It’s the small cultural differences that remind me I am not in the United States anymore. Italians keep eggs unrefrigerated , the only word I can understand on the milk carton is “latte,” and good wine can be found for 10 euros. While I’m learning to adapt to the Italian lifestyle, I am still hesitant to keep my eggs on the counter rather than the fridge.
Cascine Market
Another thing I’ve learned is that I love any type of market. The second week of my study abroad program I made the 3-mile trek from my apartment to the Mercato delle Cascine . While by the end I was exhausted, it was all worth it when I got to immerse myself into the Florentine market experience. I walked almost the whole kilometer of the market and shopped for all kinds of things. Mercato delle Cascine has a variety of vendors that sell five euro clothing, affordable accessories, shoes, fresh produce, and even pet turtles and birds! When I went to the Cascine market, I didn’t feel like a tourist; I was surrounded by locals who were enjoying a market outside of the city center.
The Central Market
I also visited The Mercato Centrale recently which gave me a taste of home. The way this large market is tucked into a huge warehouse made me feel like I was home in Detroit. While I am not being served Polish food, Arabic food, and Hamburgers at the Mercato Centrale it still reminds me of the Eastern Market that I have visited so many times living in Southeastern Michigan. My roommate, Bella, and I tried multiple meals, including a Maritozzi , when we visited the Mercato Centrale. After all the hype I saw on TikTok about this pasty, I can say it did not disappoint. As a class we also tried two different kinds of pizza and a ham and cheese sandwich. No prosecco at this tasting, unfortunately. The Mercato Centrale is in more of a central area compared to other markets I’ve visited. I overheard more American accents and English being spoken than when I visited Mercato delle Cascine.
Sant’Ambrogio Market
The third market I have been to during my time abroad is Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio. This was my personal favorite. It is smaller than the two markets I previously mentioned and it is right across the street from my apartment. Because it is smaller and in a very local part of town it has a charm that not all markets have. I have recently taken to going to Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio for my fresh produce rather than Conad. I learned in class that it is very important to buy the fruit that is in season rather than whatever fruit you want. So for the past few weeks I have been indulging in cherries for my afternoon snack. Whenever I go to this market I really feel like a local, even if all I can say to the vendors is “hello” and “thank you,” they appreciate the effort anyways. Most people are friendly there, even if I am painfully American.
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By Eleanor Zazeckis and Bella Ruisi