Sometime during the 1500s, some of the wealthy residents of Florence began building little windows into the external walls of their homes. I’m told this was so that they could sell wine, produced at their Tuscan wineries, without incurring extra levels of taxation in Florence. There seems to be more than one explanation for all this, but what it clear is that there were nearly 200 of these throughout the city. Most have been closed off, but some remain and are being used by wine shops, restaurants, and gelato shops.
I’m told that the size of the wine windows was made to accommodate this kind of wine bottle. Look familiar? Chianti is made just south of Florence, so this makes sense!
And it’s great fun to find them! I was here in Florence for a week, walking around with knowledge of the wine windows, but without ever spotting one. Until my rickshaw tour guide pointed out a couple. And then, walking today, I spotted more! Seems like one of those things that once you’ve seen the first, they become very easy to see. Of course, now I walk down the street watching the walls instead of the shop windows or other nice scenery! Ah well, it will be a short-lived hobby.
So here’s what I’ve got! The first two pics are the best, as this window is open and is being operated by a restaurant. When I peeked inside, I was offered the chance to buy wine, though I passed. You can the restaurant employee at the left side of the second pic!
And this is my rickshaw tour guide, next to a (closed) wine window he showed me.
I saw this, and laughed when I did. I’m pretty sure this wasn’t made in the 16th century, and seems a light-hearted take on the whole wine window trend!
I don’t know for sure, but I don’t really think this is a wine window, as it was inside the cloister section of a large basilica!
I’m not sure if this one is open or not!
But I’m quite sure the rest of these are all closed. Still, it was fun to find them!
This one has a cute paint job and an official looking plaque!
Friday additions! Turns out I have an extra day in Florence, Yay, thanks to my flight home being cancelled. I hope to get home tomorrow though.
So today I took a walk through the Oltrarno district of Florence. The river here is the Arno River, and the other side is called Oltrarno, literally “beyond Arno”. It’s a great area and I hadn’t spent much time there. I loved having lunch at a wine shop that also serves food. And while strolling around, I found more wine windows!
These first two are my faves because they are so cute, as well as being official looking!
