10 Best Markets in Bologna

Mercato Piazzola has been a fixture at Bologna's Piazza VIII Agosto since 1251 when local farmers would trade their livestock here. More than 400 stalls selling clothing, homewares, crafts and food are set up at the marketplace every Friday and Saturday.

The bulk of the market is clothes and accessories, including hats, handbags, belts, shoes, jewellery, perfume, and cosmetics. You can also buy rolls of beautiful fabrics, sewing equipment, sheets, and tea towels. Grab some snacks from the food stalls and have a picnic in Parco della Montagnola, a charming formal garden just north of the market.

Mercato di Mezzo has been delighting the city's gourmets since medieval times. It's housed in an attractive 19th-century building and sells food products you won't find anywhere else. Highlights include organic wines, handmade pasta and gnocchi, fresh seafood, aged meat, and all kinds of bread and pastry delicacies.

The main action is on the ground floor, where a central food court is surrounded by small independent vendors. Shop around the stalls for various snacks and small plates, then grab a seat at the communal wooden tables. Upstairs, there's an excellent pizzeria, while the basement has a craft brewery serving beer and hamburgers.

Santo Stefano Antiques Market (Mercato dell'antiquariato Santo Stefano) takes place every month in the pretty, historic square of Piazza Santo Stefano. At the centre of the square is Santo Stefano Basilica, a complex of medieval religious buildings with some gorgeous frescoes. It's a great spot to hunt for collectables or pick up something to decorate your home.

Music lovers will enjoy the stalls of old vinyl, and there's plenty for collectors of military memorabilia, art or pottery. Keep an eye out for retro posters and postcards, vintage photographs, and religious icons. Take a break at one of the pavement cafes lining the square, or grab a gelato to eat as you walk around.

Mercato Ritrovato is a sustainable food market in Bologna that sells seasonal fare direct from the producers. Its fresh fruit and vegetables are all grown in the immediate area, as part of Italy's so-called 'zero-kilometre' food philosophy. Shop for fresh pasta, organic wine, raw cheese, regional honey, Adriatic fish, and fair-trade coffee.

Check out Vigne dei Boschi's biodynamic wines, balsamic vinegar aged in oak barrels at Acetaia Oddolini, or raw cheese from the Savena valley at Lama Grande. If you're after a snack, there's a roast chestnut stand on the back of a bike and several stalls selling artisan sweets. Cooking classes, workshops, tasting sessions, live music and dancing all take place there regularly.

Mercato dei Fiori di San Francesco is a market that specializes in plants of all kinds. It takes place in a piazza outside the 13th-century Gothic church of Basilica di San Francesco. The historical piazza is a particularly beautiful sight early in the morning when stallholders arrive with their bright displays of flowers.

What you can buy depends on the time of year, but there are flowers of all kinds, plus aromatic plants, herbs, and sometimes small fruit trees. Italian regions have their own special plants, so you might come across roses from Liguria or sunflowers from Tuscany. Come in spring for the most radiant display and a wonderful aroma of things in bloom.

Mercato Bolognina is a sheltered market which covers the pedestrian stretch of Via Francesco Albani, in the middle of Bologna's old town. It's one of Bologna's more authentic markets, where you can rub shoulders with residents doing their weekly grocery shopping. Stalls of fresh vegetables sit next to stands of marinated olives, cured sausages, chutneys, and preserves.

Visit Caseificio Morandi Bologna for a wide variety of cow and goat milk cheeses, as well as delicious fresh yoghurt. Mucho Gusto Gelateria is popular for its ice cream, which comes in flavours like amaretto and bubble waffle. The street is home to several bars, and you can finish your shopping with a glass of wine at Il Pollaio or an aperitif at Bollore.

Interscambio Bologna is a shop and flea market in Bologna that sells all things antique and vintage. Don't be fooled by the small upper gallery and its curated selection of art and furniture. Head down to the basement for a sprawling treasure trove where you might find anything from period telephones to old playing cards.

Have a rummage among the antique furniture, ceramics, glassware, period bicycles, old suitcases, and racks of vintage clothes. They also have a wide selection of old books, comics, and magazines. You're sure to find something that will fit in your suitcase in the glass cases filled with silver photo frames and antique hand mirrors.

Mercato delle Erbe is the biggest food market in central Bologna. It's housed in an imposing porticoed building from the early 20th century, with entrances on Via Belvedere and Via San Gervasio. You can do your grocery shopping at its fruit, vegetable, meat, and cheese stalls or grab dinner at the onsite food court.

Stock up on fresh pasta, stuffed dumplings, fresh bread, gourmet cheese and all kinds of olives. There are also several traditional wine merchants where you can pick up local wines and have a chat with the genial vendors. The central food court gets packed at dinnertime, so come before 8 pm if you want to get a table.

Mercato Artigianale is also known as San Giuseppe Colours, after the street where it takes place. The market is a chance for local artisans to show off not just their merchandise but also their skills. Wander the stalls and you'll see vendors weaving on looms, blowing glass, working metal, and demonstrating their expert techniques.

Among the stalls you can find cosy blankets, silk scarves, handmade jewellery, leather bags and stationery, to name just a few. If you're looking for charming homeware, you're sure to find it among the stalls of bowls, vases and candle holders. Many pieces are unique, with particular attention paid to quality materials and careful craftsmanship.

Il Quadrilatero is a maze of narrow alleys and medieval buildings in the oldest part of Bologna. Enter through the imposing arched entrance off Piazza Maggiore, Bologna's central square. The area's cobbled streets are home to many butchers, bakers, grocers, delicatessens, and other gourmet food shops, along with a few upmarket fashion brands.

Look out for the excellent local cheeses and cured meats, traditional silversmiths, and historic pharmacies. Many of the shops have been in the same family for generations and still sell the same traditional products. End the day with a glass of regional wine at Osteria del Sole, a 15th-century pub on Vicolo Ranocchi.