Market Day- Castelfiorentino- Saturday

Not far from where I live in Certaldo is Castelfiorentino. They have the local larger street market on Saturday's which I like to go to about once a month. These market days are sort of like the "mall" coming to you. Hundreds of small privately owned shops line the streets. Many have repeat items, especially the cheap t-shirts, underwear and shoes, but some are one-of-a-kind.

Today I was looking for my Sardenian cheese vendors and also the Sicilian stand. Both were already on vacation and missing. But not to waste the day, we stopped by the local bakery and picked up some Donzelle, the local fried bread, shaped like a tiny baquette and some mortadella to make a sandwich with them.

here is mom in the bread making room next door to the shop

She is brushing oil on their cracker-like schiacchiata

Picked up some pancetta for today's zucchini recipe I am working on and a couple of cute summer tops.

But with the variety of items here, anyone can start a farm!

 small plants ready for planting for fall crops- fennel and salad greens

small chili plants already producing chili's- ready to harvest

baby geese- most farms raise their own courtyard animals

the season's bounty for sale direct from farms

Everyday is market day somewhere- so search out the local markets

and get a REAL TASTE of living here.