We love discovering what sparks the imagination when travelers begin planning a trip to Italy. Recently, our guests have been especially interested in one of Florence’s most charming gastronomic curiosities – the buchette del vino, or wine windows. These small, arched openings set into Renaissance palaces may look unassuming at first glance, but they hold centuries of history within their stone frames. Let’s take a closer look at their story plus the perfect way to experience them for yourself!
A Renaissance Wine Tradition
Florence’s wine windows date back tothe 16th century, when Cosimo I de’ Medici granted noble families the right to sell wine directly from their homes. Many of these families owned vineyards in the Tuscan countryside as well as grand residences in the city. The solution was both practical and discreet: a small hatch in the palazzo wall where locals could bring a flask, pass it through, and have it filled with wine – all without ever entering the household.
These windows would become much more than just a convenience. During the plague years of the 1600s, they allowed for exchanges that kept social distance long before the concept had a name. In the centuries that followed, many were sealed or forgotten as Florence modernized, yet the wine windows endured as little reminders of the city’s resilience and ingenuity.
Rediscovery & Revival
For centuries, Florence’s wine windows were overlooked, many bricked over or repurposed as mail slots and doorbells. Their story began to reemerge thanks to the work of local historians and the Buchette del Vino Association, which has catalogued more than 180 surviving examples in Florence alone. They’ve also inspired renewed attention in recent years thanks to photographer Robbin Gheesling’s evocative Wine Doors of Florence project and the richly illustrated book Wine Windows in Florence and Tuscany by Diletta Corsini and Lucrezia Giordano.
Even Stanley Tucci brought them into the spotlight in his series Searching for Italy, where he marveled at the charm of sipping a glass of wine received through one of these centuries-old doors. All of this attention has made the buchette del vino one of Florence’s most charming gastronomic features.
Experience the Wine Windows Yourself
With something as unique as Florence’s wine windows, you simply have to see them in action. Join a Florence Wine Windows Guided Walk led by a local expert to discover the historic buchette del vino for yourself. Along the way you’ll also pass landmarks such as the Duomo, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Piazza della Repubblica and Palazzo Strozzi, while hearing the fascinating details behind these tiny windows
At one stop, you’ll even sip a glass of wine served through a window – just as Florentines did centuries ago. The walk then continues inside Mercato Centrale, where a Tuscan wine specialist will host a tasting of three regional wines paired with classic bites like prosciutto, salami and olives. With its small-group format, this tour is a great mix of history, culture and gastronomy that will leave you with a new appreciation for Florence’s most curious tradition.
Want to explore even more of Florence’s history, art and cuisine? Take a look at our favorite Florence tours that bring the city to life in unforgettable ways.
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