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This pretty 16th century loggia used to shelter the fish mongers in Mercato Vecchio. It’s called Loggia del Pesce. See the fish in the medallions? The loggia was dismantled when the old market was torn down to give room to the grand Piazza della Repubblica. And in the 1950’s it was re-erected in Piazza dei Ciompi.
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I stumbled upon this lovely place one day at dusk, so please excuse the quality of the photos.
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There is no longer any fish to be bought by the Loggia del Pesce. But almost anything else under the sun is available here at the permanent flea market. Antiques of various quality, books, clothes…
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You can easily spend an hour here if you are looking for bargains or that special gift. It is such a nice break from the tourist shopping streets!
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The sun is setting quickly and I am off to explore more of the Sant’ Ambrogio area before dark. And yes, I did get a few gifts to bring home. I dug deep among the brassware and found some beautiful candleholders. Most satisfying!
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FLORENSICS 