Utterly unique to Florence, buchette del vino (literally “small wine holes”) have been getting a lot of attention since the pandemic.
Spend enough time walking around Florence and you’ll begin to notice these small holes in the walls. Large enough to fit a flask of booze and an arm to proffer it, they were a discreet way for noble families to sell surplus wine directly to customers in the 16th century.
The privacy and security offered by these small windows took on a whole new meaning during the bubonic plague of 1630, when the windows were a crucial way for both buyers and sellers to avoid contagion.
Since wine was thought to have medicinal properties, patrons would pop by the windows in the hope that a glass would heal them; they’d simply ring the bell, place money on a tray and then be passed a flask of wine.
Today, there are thought to be over 150 wine windows in central Florence, with more in the wider region of Tuscany. They fell into disuse over time, with many boarded up by the 20th century, but the COVID-19 pandemic saw some windows unlocked once more to dispense everything from coffee to spritz.
There’s great pleasure in spotting a wine window as you amble around the city, even more so when your evening vino is served through one. Here are four to look out for:
1. Via San Niccolo 79, Santa Croce
2. Babae, Via Santo Spirito 21r, Santo Spirito
3. Il Latini, Via dei Palchetti 6r, Santa Maria Novella
4. Vivoli, Via dell’Isola delle Stinche 7r, Santa Croce
The privacy and security offered by these small windows took on a whole new meaning during the bubonic plague of 1630, when the windows were a crucial way for both buyers and sellers to avoid contagion.
Since wine was thought to have medicinal properties, patrons would pop by the windows in the hope that a glass would heal them; they’d simply ring the bell, place money on a tray and then be passed a flask of wine.
Today, there are thought to be over 150 wine windows in central Florence, with more in the wider region of Tuscany. They fell into disuse over time, with many boarded up by the 20th century, but the COVID-19 pandemic saw some windows unlocked once more to dispense everything from coffee to spritz.
There’s great pleasure in spotting a wine window as you amble around the city, even more so when your evening vino is served through one. Here are four to look out for:
1. Via San Niccolo 79, Santa Croce
2. Babae, Via Santo Spirito 21r, Santo Spirito
3. Il Latini, Via dei Palchetti 6r, Santa Maria Novella
4. Vivoli, Via dell’Isola delle Stinche 7r, Santa Croce