FLORENCE, ITALY – The famous market of San Lorenzo, in the center of the city, will not return in front of the basilica, a court in Florence ruled.
The market stalls for which Piazza San Lorenzo in Florence was once famous are to be moved from the quarter after classic goods ere replaced by cheap nicknacks, the Council of State ruled.
Italy’s highest administrative court upheld a ruling by the Tuscany regional administrative court (TAR) and rejected an appeal by street traders.
The Council of State said that “because of the general degradation of the market, its traditional character had been lost, as well as the balance with the context of the precious city of art, which ended up being damaged”.
The quarter, which is home to the iconic Medici chapels decorated by Renaissance genius Michelangelo, as well as the richly ornamented San Lorenzo Church, was long known for its market trade, especially in leather goods.
The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the centre of the city’s main market district, and the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III.
It is one of several churches that claim to be the oldest in Florence; when it was consecrated in 393 it stood outside the city walls.
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I completely agree with the decision to eliminate the market . It was full of Chinese and Indian vendors with useless goods not at all artisan . It is not an ancient market that it was years ago .
Agree as well! When we were there again in July 2016 I was so dismayed to see what it had become. Aggressive vendors with cheap, useless products. Bravo to the court for the ruling.
Is the whole market to be closed, or just the area around San Lorenzo? Are the streets around the Mercato Centrale to be cleared too?
Actually a smaller market is located in some streets close to San Lorenzo basilica.
I have to agree too. The market was selling the same crap every fleamarket in Europe has – lookalike knock-offs and cheap trinkets. Instead of killing off the market why not make it a place for artisan and handmade goods that would be in keeping with the spirit of Florence? It would take some careful selection of vendors, and monitoring… but it could be a win/win.
I agree. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
While the market was once a wonderful place to buy Italian goods, it has mostly been taken over by foreigners selling cheap knock-offs at high prices. Just another indication that if one is looking for Italian culture in Florence, one has to look very far, indeed.
Globalisation and the internet have contributed to the way we buy consumer goods. Everyone can stay home now. The world outside just has one more shuttered attraction.