In the heart of Florence, next to the south side of the Loggia (open gallery) of the Mercato Nuovo (New Market), stands a statue of a wild boar, a symbol of Florence, known as the "Lucky Pig." The market that once stood in what is now Piazza della Repubblica is called the Old Market, while this one is called the New Market. In the past, it seems that expensive silk and woolen fabrics and traditional Florentine straw hats were sold here, but now it is lined with stalls selling reasonably priced leather goods, making it a pleasant place to shop. And sitting on the south side of this is the statue of the wild boar known as the "Little Pig" (Italian: Porcellino). It was created around 1640 by Pietro Tacca, who studied under the great sculptor Giambologna, but it was affectionately called the "Little Pig" at the time, and that name has remained to this day. This bronze statue is highly acclaimed for its realistic depiction, from the fur on its surface to the swampy environment where the boar lives (plants, amphibians, and reptiles). As you can see from the image, there is a legend that "stroking the nose of this boar brings good luck," and tourists flock to this statue, making it very lively. Not only can you stroke the nose, but it is also considered very auspicious if you put a coin in its mouth and release it, and if the coin falls through the grate at the base, it is said that "your wish will come true" or "you will be able to return to Florence." With only the boar's nose shining in gold, one wonders how many people have stroked this nose and made wishes. Incidentally, this boar statue is a replica, and the original has been stored in the Baldini Museum since 2004.
At the bustling new market, Mercato Nuovo (Italian: Mercato Nuovo, also known as Porcellino Market), you can find a wide variety of goods, from leather products such as bags, pouches, and belts, to clothing and stationery made from marbled paper, mainly handicrafts. Stalls line the grounds, and even for leather goods, it's a great place to find bargains at reasonable prices. During the tour, it's difficult to enjoy shopping at your own pace, so I decided to return to the new market in the evening after we had some free time to browse. And I found a beautifully vibrant red leather wallet that I loved! I immediately negotiated the price with a kind-looking signor (Italian: signore, male) and was able to buy it at a great price! Do you remember?Please give me a discount. Sconto, per favore (Conto per favoreLet's try asking with a smile! (lol)
Leaving Piazza della Signoria and the lucky boar statue at Mercato Nuovo (New Market) behind, we head towards the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) while sightseeing on foot through the old town.
I saw artists creating art on the asphalt, and it looked like they were working within designated spaces, so perhaps it was some kind of event? You can catch glimpses of artists' work like this all over the city. It truly is Florence, the city of art!
An 8-minute walk from the Mercato Nuovo (New Market) through the old town will suddenly open up your view to the Cathedral Square, where Giotto's Campanile (Italian: Campanile di Giotto) soars high into the sky. Built between 1334 and 1359, this Gothic-style bell tower, like the cathedral itself, is made of red, white, and green marble and stands approximately 84 meters tall. Giotto di Bondone, the painter and architect who was in charge of the construction at the time, completed the first floor in just three years before his death. Afterwards, Andrea Pisano took over the second floor, and Francesco Talenti completed the third to fifth floors. It would be enjoyable to carefully examine the exterior walls of the tower and observe the different styles of each floor created by the three architects. This great bell tower continues to ring its bells to tell the time. It's also famous as a viewpoint, and after climbing 414 steps, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. The entrance to the viewpoint is on the back side when facing the Baptistery of San Giovanni. The stairs are narrow and the steps are steep, so those confident in their physical fitness should wear light clothing.
The facade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) was originally decorated by Arnolfo di Cambio, but the decorations were demolished in 1587, and the current facade is a 19th-century reconstruction. Based on white marble, the geometric patterns using pink and green marble are intricate and represent a hybrid style of Neo-Gothic architecture.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni (Italian: Battistero di San Giovanni), attached to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is an octagonal building facing the main entrance of the cathedral. It is one of the most important examples of centralized Romanesque church architecture and was built in the 11th century to be dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. In the 14th and 15th centuries, three bronze gates were added to the building. The south gate was created by Andrea Pisano, while the north and east gates were created by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The east gate, which took 27 years to complete and is shown in the image, is a relief composed of 10 panels on each side depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Its beauty was so impressive that Michelangelo praised it as the "Gate of Paradise," and it is now known by this name and is a popular tourist spot. On this tour, you will have free time to explore from this Cathedral Square. My husband and I decided to skip visiting the Duomo's dome, which was made famous in the movie "Between Calmness and Passion," due to time constraints, and instead headed to our main destination, the Central Market (Italian: Mercato Centrale), and our favorite restaurant for lunch.
A five-minute walk north from the Cathedral Square will take you to the Basilica of San Lorenzo. Its facade is unfinished, with exposed brickwork. However, the interior, completed after nine years of work, is a far cry from the unfinished facade, and it is the resting place of Giovanni di Picci, the father of the elderly Cosimo. Highlights include the vibrant ceiling dome, the main altar, and the pulpit by Donatello.
The intersection with the statue of Giovanni delle Bande Nere (Giovanni of the Black Flag), father of Grand Duke Cosimo I of Tuscany, at the southeast corner of Piazza San Lorenzo, is a landmark. If you follow the street lined with stalls, you will arrive at your destination, the Central Market (Mercato Centrale).
The rows of stalls stretching from Piazza San Lorenzo to Via Ariento offer a wide variety of Florentine crafts, leather goods, marbled paper products, clothing, and souvenirs, making it a great place to shop! (Note: The market is closed on Sundays and Mondays.) Next time, I'll introduce you to the Central Market (Mercato Centrale), which I've been looking forward to visiting!
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Location: Piazza del Duomo, Florence, Italy TEL: +39 055 230 2885
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (until 4:00 PM on Thursdays in May and October, until 4:30 PM on Thursdays from November to April, and until 4:45 PM on Saturdays)
Admission fee: None *The Duomo's dome costs €8 (approximately 1,120 yen).
