Il mercato rionale
The neighbourhood market
Enrico Basile
Transcript
Every Italian neighbourhood has its own local market.
Usually, the market opens two or three mornings a week.
Read it with audio, tap any word, keep the ones you want to remember.
10 minutes a day free · no card needed
There are stalls selling fruit and vegetables, fish, cheese, and even clothes.
The vendors know the regular customers and greet them by name.
At the market you buy what is in season: it costs less and tastes better.
In autumn you find pumpkin and mushrooms; in summer, tomatoes and sweet peaches.
At the clothes and shoe stalls, sometimes you can haggle a little over the price.
With fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, prices are almost always fixed.
Around midday, before closing, many vendors lower their prices to sell off their stock.
This moment is called the last round, and it's perfect for getting a bargain.
The market is not just a place to shop: it's also a meeting place.
People stop to chat, exchange recipes, talk about the weather.
Next time you are in Italy, go to the local market early in the morning.
It's a simple way to experience everyday life like a true Italian.