A pilot plan to relocate street vendors from the historic center to the Cascine area was revealed this week by la Repubblica, marking the first concrete step in Florence’s broader strategy to reform public-space commerce. The relocation, set to begin this summer, aims to ease congestion in key tourist areas while improving safety and urban order in parts of the city that have struggled with neglect and criminality.
The initial focus is on piazza Vittorio Veneto, near the entrance to Cascine Park, which has recently become a temporary hub for tourist buses due to tramway construction along the Arno. By the end of August, three vendor stalls from piazza Pitti — known for selling drinks and souvenirs — will be moved there on a provisional basis. A fourth stall currently located in piazza Santa Felicita will follow, moved permanently to the Cascine area to make way for planned renovations.
According to the city administration led by Mayor Sara Funaro, the goal is twofold: to reduce the pressure of vending activity in the historic center and to “activate” underutilized areas like Cascine, which have seen increased foot traffic thanks to redirected tourist buses, but also remain vulnerable to petty crime and social degradation. The presence of regulated commercial activity, city officials believe, could serve as a stabilizing and safety-enhancing element in the area.
The changes at piazza Vittorio Veneto follow another recent shift: the square was designated earlier this year as the main drop-off and pick-up point for tourist coaches, replacing the Lungarno del Tempio, currently occupied by tramway construction. With buses and now vendor stalls converging in the same space, the square is rapidly becoming a new node in Florence’s tourism map.
This summer’s moves are just the start of a more comprehensive reform. In 2026, Florence plans to review the entire system of street commerce, introducing smaller, more uniform and aesthetically consistent stalls, possibly with stricter rules on merchandise quality and permitted product categories. Before that, the city aims to resolve the separate issue of outdoor seating (dehors), a contentious topic that will be addressed during the coming winter, with new rules expected by November.
Once the new framework for outdoor seating is in place, a joint working group including the city, the Soprintendenza, trade associations, and Quartiere 1 will tackle the next phase, focusing on dense tourist areas such as San Lorenzo, piazza della Stazione, via Pellicceria, and the former Uffizi stalls.
One of the most urgent cases is San Lorenzo, where the April incident of a fire truck blocked by vendor stalls exposed serious logistical and safety concerns. The city’s broader goal is to rethink Florence’s relationship with street trade, balancing tradition with the evolving demands of urban life and tourism.
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