Novoli fruit and vegetable market, Wholesale produce market in Novoli district, Florence, Italy.
The Novoli fruit and vegetable market is a large building in Florence that distributes produce and food from farmers to shops and restaurants. The structure has a central roof design that lets natural light in during the day so all the goods are clearly visible.
Construction began in 1939 but was interrupted during World War II when the unfinished buildings provided shelter for displaced people. After the war, it was completed between 1955 and 1958.
The market connects Florence to the agriculture of the surrounding region and shows how the city sources its food from local farmers. You can see daily how people keep the trade between city and countryside alive.
The facility opens in the early morning on weekdays when restaurants and shops pick up their daily supplies. It is a busy working place with many people and vehicles, so visitors should be respectful and not disrupt the trade.
The building displays unusual architecture with large roof overhangs that hold without thick supports, a design inspired by American market buildings. This technical solution was innovative for its time and shows how European engineers adopted advanced ideas.
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