Cascine Park or Parco delle Cascine

Cascine Park or Parco delle Cascine
Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Cascine Park is the largest public park in Florence.  Like so many places in Florence, its history dates back to the Medici family.  What was once private is now fully open to the public.  There's a convenient tram line to reach Cascine from the historical center, too. Meno male! (Thank goodness!)

I walked to the park on my first day here and was pleased to discover its proximity. A few days later, I was reading about the outdoor markets in Florence, and learned of the Tuesday market at Cascine Park.   It sounded like a perfect opportunity to experience local life.

So, Tuesday morning after my run and shower, I walked to the park thinking I would get some fruit and lunch at the market.  I was completely unprepared for the size!  Nearly 3/4 mile of stalls on both sides of the walkway. The market contained EVERYTHING!  Tutti!  Food, household supplies, gadgets, pets, yarn, perfume, all kinds of clothes.  Honestly, it was overwhelming.

I walked the length of the market and by that time some vendors were packing up to leave. I stopped to watch. What  fascinated me is that each vendor stored their wares in a van with a large door along the side. The cloth awning extends from the top of the van and covers the tables that display the items for sale.  On the interior, each van is outfitted  differently depending on what is being sold.  Bins for shirts and housewares.  Racks for dresses. The display tables fold up neatly to tuck inside the van.  Everything is stored until the next market day.  It seemed like a lot of work!

In the end, I didn't buy anything except for lunch: a panino con porchetta (roasted and stuffed pork which is sliced for a sandwich).  It was delicious!

https://www.visitflorence.com/what-to-do-in-florence/shopping/the-cascine-market.html


http://parcodellecascine.comune.fi.it/informazioni/il_parco.html

Not Only Pizza

Not Only Pizza

September 17, 2019

I love pizza, and I especially love pizza in Italy.  However, I know a diet of only pizza would have disastrous results for my health and my waistline.  So, in the interest of following a Mediterranean diet, I eat a salad and veggies every day.  In Florence it's easy to stick to that plan.  Here are two great places for salad, as well as a very cool, nearby shop (negozio).

In Piazza Santo Spirito, I was walking around the piazza looking at menus, and the waiter at Cabiria suggested I try a large salad, a "complete meal", he said.  The food looked good and there were tables outside, so I agreed. The salad was fresh, plentiful and tasty:  greens, tomatoes, corn, carrots, tuna, mozzarella.  Even better was the price of only 6 euro!

Another well-known place is Carduccio, two blocks from Piazza Santo Spirito and near Palazzo Pitti. The food is artful, delicious, organic, biodynamic-- in other words, it looks great and is great for you. I needed a snack, so I ordered crostone (toasted bread) with goat cheese, avocado, sliced egg and almonds.  Carduccio also serves organic wine and prosecco! Since I was there in late afternoon, the cafe was quiet and I was able to have an interesting chat with the waitress.  One question I asked her was how to say the word "bohemian" in Italian, which is my perception of this neighborhood. She replied (in English) that they define this area of the Oltrarno as "radical chic".  I like it!

Across the street from Carduccio,  is a wonderful clothing and accessories  store owned by Guilia Materia.  She creates all the designs, and everything is made by hand (fatto a mano) in Florence.  Guilia is friendly, talented and passionate about her work. We had a conversation (mostly in English), about my plans in Florence and her path to owning this shop. When I was answering her questions about my year in Florence, she said, "You are on an 'Erasmus'".  An "Erasmus" applies to college students on an exchange program, and I liked her extension of the term to include possibly anyone on a type of "exchange".  She told me that she studied design during her own Erasmus in Berlin.  She made book bindings and continued to extend her creativity to clothing and bags. Her items are unique and practical. I bought a lovely skirt, or rather a "radical chic" skirt!