One of the things that define holidays for most people, along with having a bit of a lie-in in the mornings, tasting the local cuisine and seeing the sights, is doing some shopping and picking up souvenirs to remind you of your trip and to bring back as gifts for those who didn't go with you. Of course, it's always nice when there are bigger and better versions of the shops you like or impressive urban shopping districts but it's preferable to purchase things that you can't get anywhere else; crafts, locally-produced goods and other one-off items. This is one of the many things that makes the town of Greve in Chianti so desirable around Easter.
Each year, there is an antique market, the Mercato delle Cose del Passato (Market of Objects from the Past) that is quite well-established, but still a bit of an insider's secret, and this is the ideal place to find souvenirs unlike those you would pick up anywhere else. Just find a villa with pool in Greve in Chianti and you can hunt down the best bargains and most unique items.
The annual antiquities fair is held in Piazza Matteotti (with some stalls spilling into surrounding streets) at Greve in Chianti on Easter Monday and has become one of the better collectors' fairs in Italy despite a period in the 90s of being utterly full of junk.
The annual antiquities fair is held in Piazza Matteotti (with some stalls spilling into surrounding streets) at Greve in Chianti on Easter Monday and has become one of the better collectors' fairs in Italy despite a period in the 90s of being utterly full of junk.
Due to better licensing, there is now a good offering of genuine antiques and very good copies (which are generally clearly identified as such). You'll find old and reproduction rustic furniture, old tools, items from farmhouses and vineyards, ceramics, glassware and cutlery, embroidered linen, iron work, paintings, postcards, some books and lot of other miscellaneous goodies just waiting to be discovered.
The market is an Easter Monday institution in the area that attracts loads of locals and, while the atmosphere is lively, you won't encounter the kind of madness that can plague some markets. You'll also find many of the stall holders that attend the wonderful monthly markets at Arezzo (the biggest and one of the best known flea markets in Italy) but the whole thing is on a smaller, more readily palatable scale. Along the street off the square, porchetta and other snacks such as pecorino, dried fruit and sweets are available so you can keep yourself fuelled up for your scavenging adventures, or go sit with a snack if you're tired.
If you're looking to bring a little bit of Tuscany home with you, this is the place to head for your holiday shopping!
The market is an Easter Monday institution in the area that attracts loads of locals and, while the atmosphere is lively, you won't encounter the kind of madness that can plague some markets. You'll also find many of the stall holders that attend the wonderful monthly markets at Arezzo (the biggest and one of the best known flea markets in Italy) but the whole thing is on a smaller, more readily palatable scale. Along the street off the square, porchetta and other snacks such as pecorino, dried fruit and sweets are available so you can keep yourself fuelled up for your scavenging adventures, or go sit with a snack if you're tired.
If you're looking to bring a little bit of Tuscany home with you, this is the place to head for your holiday shopping!
Photo credits
Picture 1: Velvet / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 1: Velvet / CC BY-SA 3.0
