When I’m stateside, there’s no weekend pastime I enjoy quite like rifling through a good rummage sale. But the garage, yard, tag or “car boot” sales of secondhand items that are so beloved in the United States and United Kingdom aren’t the norm here in Italy.
It’s not that Italians don’t appreciate old things, of course. The peninsula has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period and even today, many Italians live in homes that were either built in the Middle Ages or contain timeworn relics such as Etruscan wells in the cellar, Roman garden walls or 12th-century portoni (front doors).
Even as the country is famed for its centuries-old treasures, selling secondhand items from a garage or backyard isn’t common practice. Italian culture tends to value privacy over profit, and hosting sales in homes or backyards involves going down too many rabbit holes of bureaucracy to make them seem worthwhile.
But if you enjoy scavenger-hunt-style shopping, especially when traveling in spring, don’t despair. There’s an abundance of outdoor marketplaces, bazaars and fairs where you can source upcycled goods like vintage clothing, mint-condition memorabilia, handmade artisan crafts, framed oil paintings and heirloom furnishings — just don’t expect to find them strewn about on front lawns or stacked in garages.
Fiera Antiquaria, Arezzo
Arezzo hosts one of the largest and most popular antique fairs in central Italy every first Sunday of the month (and the Saturday prior, no matter when it falls). It’s a favorite of both antique dealers and the general public.
Just an hour’s train ride from Florence, the Arezzo fair is a Tuscan treasure chest of over 500 stalls spread across the historic center of the city, concentrated on Piazza Grande and extending along the surrounding streets. Everything from sterling silverware to rugs to door knockers to mid-century Italian furniture is up for grabs. Crowds start to swell after Easter in the high season, so plan to arrive early in the morning to snag the best buys. Besides vendors, there are tons of antique shops, and places to eat and drink along the route.
Porta Portese, Rome
Week after week in the Eternal City, both locals and visitors descend on the historic open-air market, Porta Portese, which begins on the piazza of the same name in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood. A jumbled mixture of big-brand diamonds in the rough and junk-y gems, the famous market is a community affair and overflowing with bargains on everything from used clothing to electronics to kitchen gadgets to rare books. Don’t be shy — go ahead and haggle for a buon prezzo (good price). The market runs every Sunday morning until 2pm.
Nuovo Mercato delle Pulci, Florence
Previously located in the central Piazza dei Ciompi, Florence’s “New Flea Market,” inaugurated in 2019, is located under a partially covered “pavilion” in Largo Annigoni just a short walk from the neighborhood’s Sant’Ambrogio food market, so you can pair your booth-hopping with picking up supplies for a picnic. The stalls spill over with nostalgic delights, kitschy collectibles, elegant kitchenware, vintage clothing, decorative furnishings and more. It’s open from Monday to Saturday year-round, but expands on the last Sunday of the month to include a wider-ranging selection of antiques.
Navigli Flea Market, Milan
If you fancy shopping along the water’s edge, on the last Sunday of every month a large market lines the banks of Milan’s Naviglio Grande canal, which was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. About a 30-minute walk from the Duomo, this must-see flea market attracts vendors trading trinkets of all kinds; standouts here include the selection of vinyl records, typewriters and fashion accessories (it’s Milan, after all). The market takes place on the last Sunday of the month from 8am to 6pm and stretches from the Darsena to Via Valenza.
Mercato delle Pulci, Palermo
Palermo’s Piazza Domenico Peranni, a stone’s throw from the city’s magnificent cathedral, is the site of one of the Sicilian capital’s most eclectic bazaars. Started just after World War II, the Palermo market has historically been frequented by everyone from nobility and politicians to everyday folks all looking to score a one-of-a-kind gem before anyone else does. The market is open weekdays from sunrise to sunset, but, as is the pattern with these markets, early birds are likely to “catch” the most excellent finds.
