The outdoor market around San Lorenzo Basilica is one of the most visited spots in Florence, a dense sprawl of stalls selling leather bags and belts, silk scarves, football shirts, carved wooden items, and every manner of Florentine souvenir. It occupies the streets and piazza on all sides of the Basilica, running from early morning until early evening every day except Sunday.
Quality varies considerably — the leather goods range from handmade items of real quality to machine-pressed tourist merchandise, and distinguishing between them takes some care. Prices are generally negotiable, especially if you are buying multiple items. The market connects directly to the covered Mercato Centrale (inside the beautiful 19th-century iron market building), where the ground floor still sells meat, cheese, fish, and produce to local shoppers, and the upper floor has become a well-regarded food hall. The two together give a vivid cross-section of the neighbourhood.