La Dolce Vita 2020 will include a visit to two Tuscan markets

First, an antique Tuscan market followed by the Siena weekly market. These two markets will have vastly different offerings affording attendees a look at two different Italian market styles.

Siena weekly market

The Siena weekly market is where locals go to purchase food and reasonably priced clothing, shoes and household items. While there will be some booths selling second hand clothes, for the most part this market offers new items. If you’re a fan of Italian linen, this is the place to pick up tops, dresses and pants at prices that are difficult to match at home. In fact, we joke that “shop ’til you drop” was invented for a favorite linen booth (see above, ha ha!).

In addition to clothing/shoes/housewares, there is also a small food section where you can see Italian Nonnas choose cheese, fresh vegetables and meats for their table and shopkeepers call out their offerings hoping to attract buyers to their stall.

Antique Markets

For antique lovers and vintage loving vixens, there is nothing like shopping the antique markets of Europe and your week at La Dolce Vita will include a visit to one! At the markets, you are typically able to find religious medals, linens, jewelry, porcelain, and bric-à-brac galore!

Cortona Antique Market

For the May 23-30, 2020 La Dolce Vita week, we plan to visit the Cortona antique market. Cortona lies approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes from our home base of Borgo Personatina. This is a small market, where approximately 40 local dealers sell their goods to locals and visitors alike. Cortona came to international prominence when the book “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes was published, and later turned into a movie. It is the town where Ms. Mayes bought and renovated her villa, Bramasole, and as such has seen a steady influx of visitors eager to see the Cortona of her writings.

Arezzo antique market

At our June 6-13, 2020 La Dolce Vita retreat, we plan to visit the Arezzo antique market. Arezzo lies approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes from our home base. This lovely town, which is built on the side of a hill, has become known as an antique lovers paradise. Not only is the town host to the region’s largest antique market, but it is also home to many dealers who have store fronts to sell their wares.

Here’s an idea of what to expect from the Umbria Tuscany Villa website:

“Arezzo, in Tuscany has iconic Etruscan art, Roman ruins, medieval walls, Renaissance architecture, as well as Piero della Francesca frescos in the basilica of San Francesco. If that were not enough, Arezzo becomes a treasure-hunter’s heaven, on the first weekend of every month transforming into Tuscany’s largest monthly Antiques Market with 500 exhibitors and about 100 small shops.”

Should you end up purchasing more treasures than will fit into your suitcase, it will be possible for you to bring them to a shipping company when we visit Siena to have them mailed home to you.

*Please note, as we are preparing our schedule several months out. There is always the possibility that the actual markets we visit could be different. This is dependent on the tuscan market dates. *