Shopping & districts
Loggia del Mercato Nuovo
The Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, popularly known as the Loggia del Porcellino, is a building in Florence, Italy. It is so called to distinguish it from the Mercato vecchio that used to be located in the area of today's Piazza della Repubblica.
What it is
The Loggia del Mercato Nuovo is an open-sided Renaissance loggia in central Florence, built as a covered market hall. Locals still call it the Loggia del Porcellino after the bronze wild-boar fountain at one end, a copy of an ancient statue (the original is in the Bardini museum). Under the arches, vendors sell leather goods, textiles, and souvenirs, continuing the space's original market function. Travelers come mainly to see the boar — rubbing its snout is a well-known local custom said to bring good luck or a return trip to Florence — and to browse the stalls.
Getting there
It sits in the heart of the historic centre, an easy walk from most central hotels. From the Duomo it's about 5-7 minutes on foot; from Piazza della Repubblica, just 2-3 minutes. There's no need for public transport if you're already staying downtown.
Time to allow
A quick stop of 10-15 minutes is enough to see the fountain and glance at the stalls, though browsing the leather goods can easily stretch this to 30 minutes.
When to go
The loggia and the boar statue draw a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, especially in high season, since it sits on a natural walking route between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Mornings tend to be calmer than midday and early evening.
Combine with
- Orsanmichele (0.1km) — a former grain market turned church, just around the corner
- Piazza della Signoria (0.1km) — Florence's civic square with open-air sculpture
- Palazzo Davanzati (0.1km) — a preserved medieval merchant's house-museum
- Piazza della Repubblica (0.2km) — a short walk away, with cafés and shops
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
