As part of a two week trip, my wife and I will be in the Hill country for 3 days. We love flea markets and have heard the one that happens the 1st Sunday each month in Arrezo is great. Has anyone been, and also, it will be Labor Day that particular Sunday. Does anyone know if it still happens being a National Holiday?
And if anyone has knowledge of other good fleas in Rome, Sienna, Florence, or Tuscany in general, that'd be great. Thanks!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
It's Arezzo (one R and two Z's)
Yes, it's open every Sunday and the preceding Saturday. The 4/30-5/1 event will occur in spite of the Labor day holiday.
In Florence look at the Mercato delle Pulci on Piazza dei Ciompi. Also on the 2nd Sunday of the month, there is a mercato arti and mestieri on Piazza di Santo Spirito.
In Rome look at the Mercato di Porta Portese. I'll let the Romans on this site speak of others.
For the Siena area see below:
http://www.terresiena.it/en/info/markets
Posted by
OP
33 posts
That's great news. If you don't mind a few more questions; We were planning to stay in Montepulciano while we were in that general area. It looks like a 45 drive to Arezzo. Think we could just drive up early in the morning or would we be better off heading up the day before and spending the night? And is there any difference between going Saturday or Sunday?
Thanks!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
I wouldn't bother to change hotels just to move 45 min away. It will take you longer to just pack and unpack your belongings and check out.
I would go on Saturday simply because most places will be closed on May 1st in Arezzo, including museums. Also Italians will be out and about that holiday, so the traffic on Sunday might be worse. You should spend May 1st touring the area near Montepulciano (e.g. Pienza, Montalcino, Buonconvento, etc.). Also taking your wife to Arezzo, the gold jewelry capital of Italy, on a holiday when all jewelries are likely closed, is cruel to your wife and she will make you pay dearly that very same night when you get back to the hotel. She will also force you to take her back to Arezzo the next day so that she can shop for that ring you've been promising her but never got around to it. So just save yourself the extra trip and take her there on Saturday when everything is open.
Posted by
OP
33 posts
Hah! You make a good point, and my wife concurs :)