Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Street-by-Street: Around San Lorenzo
This area is stamped with the character
of Cosimo il Vecchio, founder of the Medici
dynasty, who commissioned San Lorenzo
and the Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Around
San Lorenzo, a huge general market fills the
streets, its colourful awnings almost obscuring
the various monuments. The market is a
reminder that Florence has always been
a city of merchants. Many of the products
on sale - leather goods and silk, wool and cashmere
garments - are very good value especially if, like the
Florentines, you are prepared to bargain.
Cheap cafés
and cooked meat
stalls abound in the vicinity of
the market. They sell traditional
Italian take-away foods, such as
tripe and roast suckling pig,
chicken and rabbit.
Bust, Palazzo
Medici Riccardi
PIAZZA
DEL MERCATO
CENTRALE
Mercato Centrale
Built in 1874, the central market is
packed with fish, meat and cheese
stalls downstairs, while fruit
and vegetables are sold up-
stairs beneath the glass
and cast-iron roof
1
PIAZZA DI
MADONNA DEGLI
ALDOBRANDINI
Palazzo Riccardi-
Manelli
, begun in 1557,
stands on the site of
the house where
Giotto was born
in 1266.
MELARA
NCIO
Biblioteca
Mediceo-Laurenziana
The Cappelle Medicee
are
situated in San Lorenzo, but
are reached from a separate
entrance in Piazza di Madonna
degli Aldobrandini. Michel-
angelo designed the New
Sacristy and two Medici tombs.
Some of his pencil sketches
survive on the walls inside.
STAR SIGHTS
. San Lorenzo
.
Palazzo
Medici Riccardi
