Open Air Markets - The Best Way to Shop for Groceries in Italy

Whenever you think about the open air markets in Italy, all that comes to your mind is the fresh aroma of grounded herbs, exotic spices, fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits. However, there is much more you can experience in Italy that is not available in any other part of the planet. Get ready to explore what the Italians have to offer.

The flora of Italy boasts an incredible variety of fruits and vegetables. A visit to a produce market or local outdoor markets in Italy will be an unforgettable experience for you as a tourist.

From the northern Alps to southern Sicily it's always a pleasure to shop in the streets of any Italian town or city. Use of fresh produce has always been the hallmark of Italian cuisine. Italian cuisine is also seasonal with utmost priority placed on the use of local fresh, green and aromatic produce.

Some of the popular open air Markets in Italy

Frutta e Verdura, Milan

Frutta e Verdura is the fruit and vegetable market in Italy. This market is filled with organic produce, fresh cheese, baked snacks and all other sorts of native products. Here in the outdoor markets of Italy, the items are priced by the metric system by one kilogram, which is around 2.2 pounds.

Mercato di Mezzo, Bologna

Bologna is rightly called as the food Capital of Italy. Mercato di Mezzo offers more than fruits and vegetables; there are herbs and spices, beans, olive oil, pasta, honey, wine, cheeses, soaps, and more - all organic and handmade. There are a few affluent restaurants and grocery stores that serve authentic Italian food and traditional wine.

Porta Palazzo, Turin

The Porta Palazzo market is a melting pot of civilizations, traditions and cultures that liven up Turin. It is also Europe's largest open air market where you can find just about anything. Apart from the produce arriving from every region of Italy and specialties from all over the world, you can also shop for shoes, clothing, household items, toys, and a lot more.

Mergellina district, Naples/Napoli

Napoli the birthplace of pizza, holds an indisputable position in the culinary world. Engage in some street fare to get the real Italian cuisine. Since Napoli is coastal district, seafood and vegetables feature in almost every cuisine. Also known for its eateries and wine shops, this outdoor market in Italy is the place to get the best Italian food at great prices.

Italy has always been known as a place that is rich in cultural heritage and classic architecture. It also has the best open air markets in all of Europe. Everything produced and sold here are fresh, organic and safe. Pack your bags to explore and experience open air markets of Italy with PeriiloTours.com.

Italy has always been known as a place that is rich in cultural heritage and classic architecture. It also has the best open air markets in all of Europe. Pack your bags to explore and experience Outdoor Markets in Italy with PerilloTours.com

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Cruising the Floating Markets Along the Mekong Delta

On the first day of my cruise along the Mekong Delta, we visited a floating market. The floating market is open all day long, but the busiest time is in the morning, when the weather is cool, a light frost is on the river and the sun is sparkling off the water. If you want to go see the floating market at its peak, you'll have to wake up very early. Heading out early in the morning is more relaxing as you cruise along the Mekong with a fine mist over the water as you head towards the floating market where hundreds of boats are peddling their wares in the bustling markets. Take a deep breath and smell the fresh tropical fruits as boats display various kinds of fruits for the day.

The floating markets on the Mekong River are very peaceful and enjoyable, because of this, it is a successful way for the farmers to sell their goods. Unlike most mainland markets, the floating markets are crowded but not noisy. If you hear some loud noise, it's usually a boat motor. One of the most beautiful floating markets in the Mekong is called Cai Rang, located in Can Tho Province. Here, they have their own "marketing" method called "Beo Hang". On the front of the boat there is often a long pole and the vendor will hang all the goods that they have to sell that day. Beo Hang really shows the unique trading culture of the floating markets. There is very little noise, no crowded streets and everyone is relaxed, this unique way of buying and selling continues to attract thousands of tourists every year. Another popular floating market called Cai Be is filled with colorful fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, dragon fruit, mangosteen, and more, that change as often as the seasons.

Our guide arranged for us to visit a local garden along our Mekong River cruise. Cruising down some rather small canals, I can feel the calm, fresh air and I see how prosperous the land around the Mekong truly is. There are many lush gardens with flowers and ripe jackfruits near the local houses as we cruise along the river. As we're cruising by, one of the locals reaches out to my boat and hands me a jackfruit for free as a passing visitor. I quickly motion a thank you as we continue down the narrow canals. This is fairly common I'm told by my guide.

Mother Nature is so generous with the land that surrounds the Mekong Delta; they have plenty of maritime produce, lush tropical fruits and good jobs. The locals here produce rice and coconut paper, banana pancakes, coconut candy, carpet and rope from nearby coir, unique furniture from coconut shells and a variety of other items that are only made in this area. People here are not only caring and generous, they are hardworking and creative and are blessed by the river.

The floating market and the people I met on my Mekong River cruise is a beautiful reminder of the real lives of sincere hard-working people along the Mekong. As tourists, having a chance to visit the Mekong Delta, it's an unforgettable place. The people here will never be changed by urban life, it is idyllic, simple people who are always friendly each time I visit the magic on the rivers of the Mekong.

Brad loves traveling Southeast Asia as a writer for Exotic Voyages; a Vietnam based tour operator that provides Luxury and Adventure Travel Tours throughout Southeast Asia including Vietnam Travel, Laos Travel, Cambodia Travel and Thailand. Learn more about Exotic Voyages and all the exciting trips Brad and others have been on at http://www.exoticvoyages.com/.

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