The Original Florence Street Food & Local Market Tour
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Tour Code: TUR-02125
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Type: Small Group
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Duration: 3 Hours -
Departs from:
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Meeting Place: Piazza di Santa Croce, 19, 50122 Firenze, Italy
Overview
What You’ll Do
Your adventure begins in the lively Sant’Ambrogio Market, a place unknown to most tourists but cherished by Florentines. Here, baskets brim with seasonal produce, wheels of pecorino cheese glow under warm lights, and the chatter of vendors fills the air. As your guide leads you through, you’ll learn about Tuscan cooking habits, hear stories behind traditional recipes, and engage directly with market sellers who proudly present their daily offerings. Along the way, you’ll pause to taste rustic bites like crostino nero, the city’s beloved chicken liver pâté, and slices of Tuscan salami paired with cheese from the surrounding hills.But this tour is not just about eating—it’s about immersing yourself in Florence’s cultural heartbeat. As you stroll through narrow lanes and artisan corners, your guide will share tales of local history, explain the role of handicraft in Florentine life, and reveal how food, art, and tradition intertwine in this Renaissance city.
The itinerary has been carefully designed to bring adventurous foodies face-to-face with Florence’s most traditional specialties. You’ll sample the golden coccoli fritti, warm fried dough puffs topped with creamy stracchino cheese, and take on the bold challenge of biting into a panino al lampredotto, the tripe sandwich that locals proudly call their own. And yes, wine lovers rejoice—you’ll sip on thoughtfully selected Tuscan wines along the way, perfectly paired with your tastings.
The tour concludes in the very heart of Florence with a sweet finale: a scoop of crema Buontalenti gelato, the city’s claim to fame and considered the very first gelato flavor ever invented in Italy. It’s the perfect ending to a morning spent savoring history through flavors that are as authentic as the cobbled streets beneath your feet.
What You’ll Eat & Drink
Over the course of the tour, you’ll enjoy more than eight different tastings, carefully curated to showcase the city’s true culinary spirit. Things begin lightly with a welcome drink and Tuscan cantucci cookies, before diving into a parade of savory delights: artisanal cheeses and cured meats, fresh vegetables from the market, the slow-cooked Peposo beef stew simmered in red wine, and a few of our “secret treats” to surprise even the most seasoned travelers. Each stop is a chance to discover dishes you won’t find on tourist menus or in glossy guidebooks—because we doesn’t believe in serving random pizza or spritz to appease visitors. This is a food tour for the curious, the daring, and the hungry.Why Join This Tour?
On this walk, you’ll explore a real Florentine market, still mostly untouched by mass tourism, and learn about everyday life directly from locals. You’ll taste real Tuscan street food from family-run businesses, challenge your palate with flavors that push you out of your comfort zone, and interact with vendors who embody the city’s culinary traditions. Along the way, you’ll meet like-minded travelers and come away not only with a full stomach but also with the insider knowledge you need to enjoy Florence beyond the tourist traps.What Makes This Special
Travelers love because the experience is genuine, unscripted, and refreshingly unpolished. Unlike tours that rely on clichés, guides share the dishes they grew up with, offering unfiltered insights into the culture. Your guide will be a laid-back local—someone who knows the streets, the food, and the stories, and who is eager to pass along tips and personal recommendations to enrich the rest of your stay. Expect warmth, honesty, and a few culinary curveballs designed to make you see Florence with fresh eyes.Good to Know
You’ll sample regional foods at six different locations, many of which are on the go. Seating is limited, so be prepared to stand, wander, and taste as you move from one stop to the next. Because of the walking and standing involved, this tour is not recommended for travelers with limited mobility.Inclusions/Exclusions
Tour Highlights and What's Included
What's Included
A guided walking tour led by a local expert - A welcome drink and Tuscan cantucci cookies
- More than 8 street food tastings, designed to make a full meal
- A seasonal dessert (which typically is the gelato finale)
- Tuscan wine poured during the tour
What's Not Included
What's Not Included
Vegan and gluten‑free options are not available- Extra food or drinks beyond the inclusions
- Tips or gratuities
- Transportation
Pricing & Availability
Please contact us today by either phone or email for assistance with this booking.
Email : team@italyvacationspecialists.com
Toll Free : 1-866-779-2565
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In August 2018, my family of four and myself travelled from Vancouver, BC to Rome Italy and spent 3 weeks touring Italy with IVS. This company had come highly recommended by many friends and associates of ours who had used them before and indeed to say they do an outstanding job is an understatement. You can tell while being in Italy that it is one complicated place to run tours in, just by the ... [Read More]
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Jesse, There are no words to describe the fabulous time we had in Italy. Everything went as you promised. Absolutely no problems! The venues were fabulous. The guides were punctual and helpful. It couldn't have worked out better. You and your staff deserve high praise for the quality and efficiency of your work. BTW, Guiseppe was an absolute delight. We enjoyed his informative and effervescent per ... [Read More]
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I traveled with JoAnn West through your services, guided by Giuseppe, in July of this year. What a wonderful experience; your service is really top notch! If I return to Italy for a tour, I will absolutely use your services again and recommend you to my friends! ... [Read More]
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I went to high school with the owner of the company who organized my honeymoon for myself and my now wife from Tokyo. We spent three short weeks seeing Piedmont and experiencing wine paradise there, then heading to Nice in France with our private driver and flying to Rome where honestly 4 days is NOT enough. They keep saying to spend more time and we could not agree more! You need to spend more ti ... [Read More]
- Robin and Kumi Bruun, Tokyo Japan -
The trip was great we appreciate all the hard work you and your team invested to make our experience a once in a lifetime trip. We appreciate all the attention to the details in particular Giuseppe spending the time and the focus with us on the road and as we were exploring your great country. ... [Read More]
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Dear Guiseppe and Jesse, We just returned from our most wonderful vacation to Italy and wanted to first thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip, and second to provide some feedback for the future. Hotels 1. Hotel Sovestro in San Gimignano was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and helpful and made the first portion of our journey very stress free. They made us feel like we wer ... [Read More]
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I am a travel agent from Lebanon and have organized several group tours as well as individual tours of Italy with Italy Vacation Specialists. I highly recommend them as one of the very best tour operators in Italy to work with, given their professionalism and work ethic which I feel is second-to-none in the travel industry. All of the staff, the guides, the coaches and even the meals we enjoyed we ... [Read More]
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We're home now from the most amazing trip to Italy! I can't thank you enough for your efforts and coordination of what was without question the finest vacations I've been on to date. ... [Read More]
- Carol Carson -
I am a travel agent with All About Honeymoons and I would highly recommend Italy Vacation Specialists. Jessica was wonderful in helping us plan in a last minute anniversary vacation during high season without any issues. She even checked on our clients while on vacation to make sure things were going well. I plan on using them again soon for all my future bookings! ... [Read More]
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As a travel agent, but also a traveler to Italy, thee is no other company I would recommend than the Italy Vacation Specialists. Not only do they really care about what they are doing, they also really know Italy and try to educate many people about ways they can best see the country and not fall into tourist traps. I have been on 4 trips with the IVS team, firstly when they did my first 2 tri ... [Read More]
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