Markets in the Italian Riviera!
We’ve been exploring the markets in Versilia, the local name for the Italian Riviera along the Tuscan coast. Find out what our team has to say about the markets here and the products, people, and interactions that bustle in these very special places.
John Urbanczyk on weaving through the labyrinthine the food market…
The marketplace – Always a bustling center of commerce and people. We arrived not long after a storm, so the ground has that uniquely wet squish as we wandered about, looking for something – anything – Adventure. Gathering a couple other people, we venture forth into the unknown. Out of the labyrinthine market and into town. Viewed from the outside, this market we once were in, consumes much of the land. It’s truly giant. We finally manage to escape its boundaries and into the town proper. A few quick turns later and we’ve stumbled into the residential section. Quiet streets, small shops scattered about, and my favorite discovery so far, the local (food) market. We were greeted by the aroma of fresh fish on display, mostly local varieties. Often a pungent sting, it was quite refreshing here. I doubt they keep anything for more than a day, so nothing has a chance to rot. Going deeper, we find vegetables, also incredibly fresh. I’ve honestly never seen food so crisp and new in the states. Fruits are, of course, nearby, their sweetness is unmistakable. Across the floor is a separate section for wine, spices, and still more incredible vegetables. Outside, food trucks lie in wait. Smoked meats and cheeses filling the air with their woody, nutty scents, as if to draw in lost, hungry souls. Bread, oils, and almost anything can be found in the market or the trucks here.
Melissa Lee explores the wares at the Mercato di Forte dei Marmi…
In the center of town, in Forte dei Marmi there is an open-air market that draws in shoppers from all over Italy. The market is filled with the buzz of activity from the moment it opens in the morning. People from all different walks of life gather to socialize and buy goods from all over the region at bargain prices. One of the most striking aspects of the market are the textures. There are beautiful cashmere scarves and sweaters that are soft and warm, very delicate to the touch, instantly bring a comfort of home. At another tent I find leather belts, which not only smell divine, but are smooth with thick stitching, I can feel the strength in the quality. Yet some of the best tactile sensations lie in woven fabrics, which are tightly rolled. As I glide my hand over the vibrantly colored fabrics I can almost read it like braille. There is so much to see, yet I can’t control my urge to touch and feel all the products and goods, with many of the tent owners encouraging my tactile exploration.
Jen Adams shops and observes shoppers at Forte dei Marmi’s Mercato…
Cashmere, linen, leather, porcelain, jewels. I seem to have to touch each piece as I wander through the market at Forte dei Marmi. I get lost in the circle of tents that provide such beautiful items for purchase. Touch is an important part of this market. I must feel the items I yearn to purchase. The cashmere wrap is soft like the feel of silk against your body. My hands glide easily over the leather bag I choose to purchase; it reminds me of the feeling of a newborn’s skin. The vendors reach for you to feel each good as if they are serving you the best wine in all of Italy. The feel of these items is not the only form of touch I witness. I see women arm in arm. I see businessmen arm and arm. The touch they share with each other connects their emotions and lock them together as if there was a magnetic force in between them.