A market fiend, I will find at least one in every destination I travel to. Most are humble affairs but always alluring. Fresh produce, local goods, wonderful cultural experiences. None however, have been quite so grandiose as this one. Shopping at the best antique market in Lucca Italy is an experience of beauty and nostalgia.
Where & When
On the third weekend of every month, both Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 7pm. These hours are very general and dependent on the weather and sellers. I arrived around 9am and some vendors were still setting up. Others had diggers and dealers already busy shopping at their stalls.
Head to Piazza Napoleone, and San Martino and then wander through all of the connecting streets in this area. At the busiest times of year, there can be 220 vendors selling at this, Italy’s second oldest and one of its largest antique markets!
What to See
Anything and everything that you can imagine from years, decades and centuries gone by. I’ll expand on some of the more plentiful items below. Whether its antique furniture and rugs you are after, or designer handbags, its all here and the shoppers are savvy.
Linen
I love antique linen; in fact, I was a collector many eons ago. It’s a passion I have had since my early 20’s when I purchased my first piece of tatting in Vancouver. I can still remember the tiny ecru piece, a sample, so very delicate with a paper label attached stating it was manufactured in ‘British India’.
If you are a lover of any type of vintage linen, this is your dream destination. Tables and tables of gorgeous crisp white bed sheets and tablecloths. So many antique hand towels, napkins and household pieces. One vendor had an entire area devoted to monogrammed items. How lovely to take home a set of linen sheets with your initials embroidered onto them.
Racks of snow-white vintage nighties with embroidery and lace edging, all priced between €10-€20, what a bargain! In general, the prices I saw this weekend were extremely reasonable, far more affordable that I would have anticipated.
Handbags & Jewellery
I have never seen so many vintage bags and accessories in one place before. I was overjoyed to walk around and see all of these beautiful designer pieces. A few shoppers in particular were definitely scouting and making purchases of the designer goods.
Clothing
Racks and racks of furs and leathers, Tuscany is after all, the place to purchase leather goods in Italy. I love the vintage clothing, it brings back such feelings of nostalgia and one can tell that most vendors have a real eye for style.
Cameras
I love to see these tables full of vintage camera equipment. There were a few sellers in particular who had gobs of them, all displayed beautifully with globes, manuals, equipment and such. All I could think about was how much I wished my son was by my side to see all of these!
Furniture & Rugs
Oh if I only had a little one-bedroom flat here, I would decorate it sparsely but with perfectly curated pieces from this market. From the retro and mid-century sofas to the antique walnut wardrobes.
And throw in some unique light fixtures as well. A chandelier, one in each room perhaps. And don’t get me started on the antique and vintage rugs. Oh my, there are so many and they are divine! Those rich warm hues and traditional patterns would pair perfectly with the terracotta tiles on an old floor.
Collectables
Anything you have a hankering for; it might just be here. Think coins, ephemera, old books, posters, stamps, figurines, vintage advertising, pop culture items. Shoppers can spend hours and hours perusing all of these vendors tables for the perfect souvenir. This is the type of souvenir I can get behind carting home.
Photographs
Sometimes it’s the photos that can speak for themselves, far better than I can express in words, the variety of beautiful things to be found.
If you happen to be in lovely Lucca on the third weekend of any month, give this antique market a go. It’s a wonderful way to spend the morning or afternoon. Stop half way through as I did and have yourself a little cappuccino and pastry. Then go back for more. The joy of seeing all of these exquisite and beautiful treasures will allow you to understand the region and Italy from another vantage point.
