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Florence, Italy

Traditions and customs in Florence

5 customs and traditions in Florence — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Renaissance artisan workshops

Renaissance artisan workshops
Photo: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer · CC BY SA 2.0 · source

Leather, gilding, marbled paper and mosaic, still worked in Oltrarno botteghe.

Watch outBonded and synthetic leather sold as Florentine-made at the market stalls.

2. Calcio storico

Calcio storico
Photo: lukask · CC BY SA 2.0 · source

A brutal 16th-century football-wrestling hybrid played in Piazza Santa Croce each June.

3. Aperitivo

Aperitivo
Photo: Nicola since 1972 · CC BY 2.0 · source

A drink from around 19:00 with substantial snacks included.

4. Wine windows (buchette del vino)

Wine windows (buchette del vino)
Photo: watts_photos · CC BY 2.0 · source

Small hatches in palazzo walls used to sell wine since the plague years, several reopened.

5. Coffee standing at the bar

Coffee standing at the bar
Photo: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer · CC BY SA 2.0 · source

An espresso taken standing costs a fraction of the same cup at a table.

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