Florence Italy: CONTI Cantina: The Most Unique Venue in the City for Wine-Tastings & Events

If you live in Florence and shop at the famous Mercato Centrale, you most likely know the gourmet food king Stefano Conti. Established in 1929, the Conti family have been providing Florentines with the freshest produce and Tuscan delicacies for four generations.

Stefano prides himself on having the most beautiful shop inside the market. People from all over the world come to snap photos and taste the finest olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, and other culinary delights.

What you may not be aware of is their second location, which is just across the street. Brimming with vividly painted ceramics and specialty foods, this little spot harbors a secret: a historic cantina.

Originally, the 16th century palazzo (complete with portico) was once the residence of a wealthy Florentine family. There was also an expansive underground level that hosted a maze of tunnels, some of them leading to the Fortezza di Basso! Those tunnels have long-since been walled and sectioned off and the palazzo is now divided into various shops. As the years passed these individual cantinas were either abandoned or used as storage.

The wonderful cantina below the CONTI shop, however, explodes with Bohemian splendor thanks to whimsical, colorful tiles. It is unlike any cantina I have seen in the city.

This charming venue is available for wine tastings, private parties, and holiday events. The space can easily accommodate a large group. With the holidays just around the corner, the cantina offers tranquility and privacy from the hustle and bustle of the busy market.

In addition to hosting your event, Conti boasts high quality products as well as international shipping. Stefano and Yvonne are happy to educate you on olive oil, balsamic vinegar, truffle products and local Tuscan crostini. Various types of cheeses are also available and can be vacuum sealed for transport (or shipped).

Whether it's corporate gifts in large quantities, a holiday gift basket of their most popular products, or the ingredients for that one special meal, they can neatly package everything and have it sent to your door. Please contact Yvonne or Stefano via email or phone to place an order. By the way, truffles are still in season (market price).

CONTI
www.tuscanyflavours.com

The address for the new CONTI shop with Bohemian cantina:

Via Panicale 29/R 50123 Firenze.

E-mail: info@tuscanyflavours.com

Additional contact info:

Yvonne Rodriguez: yvonne.contituscanyflavours@hotmail.com

CONTI also has a Facebook page where Yvonne posts her fabulous recipes and lovely photos of Tuscany (Conti Tuscany Flavours).

As always, thank you for reading!

C. De Melo
Author & Artist
www.cdemelo.com