Siena holds a two-day market in Piazza del Campo the first weekend in December. Not only did I see the usual – pecorino of all kinds, panforte from Siena, prosciutto, salame, chestnuts – there were meats from Alto Adige (speck), cheese from Sardegna, sweets from Sicily, tortelli from Emilia-Romagna, and yes, vodka and caviar from Russia. And that was just the food and wine part. The other part of the market is filled with Christmas decorations, handicrafts and fun gifts.
And then I saw it. The very thing that can make me lose all rationale and throw caution to the wind. Right in front of me stood a tower of six wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano. I did as Dante wrote: I abandoned hope and entered. And I bought a kilo.
I belong in Italy.
And we begin.
Pecorino of all kinds.
On a sidestreet, slicing porchetta for sandwiches.
Tortelli, tortelloni, tortellini. It goes by many names and is always delicious.
This lovely gentleman is scooping some taralli for me. These snacks should come with a warning label. “Good luck eating just a few.”
Marinated garlic. OK. Sure. And then you spend the rest of the day alone. #SCOPE
Heaven.
Don’t disturb a master at work.
Meat from the north – Alto Adige.
Cheese from Sardegna
Nothing says “holiday market” like vodka from Russia.
Our Russian hostess was also serving caviar.
Chocolate from Perugia.
Almond brittle, hazelnut brittle, chocolate-covered walnuts and anything else you want.
Yum!
More chocolate because (do we really need a reason?)
Roasted chestnuts. I love roasted chestnuts.
1cannolo, 2cannoli 
Your adventures through Italy are making me cherish the travels I have had throughout my own country. Whether it was lobster in Maine or salmon in Alaska. Some people never take the opportunity to explore their own neighborhood, You are a lucky lady to travel your ancestral homeland, cherish it! (and bring me home some cheese!)
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Ricordo da bambino quando ogni settimana, il mercoledì, c’era il mercato in piazza del campo, quello che ora è alla fortezza … il tuo entusiasmo mi ricorda il mio di allora, vedendo tante cose che mia mamma non poteva nemmeno comprare, ma mi bastava esserci in mezzo … mentre i tuoi post adesso mi ricordano un’altra cosa: ho una voglia incredibile di un cannolo! O forse due cannoli, non sono sicuro … 🙂
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Ogni mercato è una manifestazione della sua gente e dei suoi prodotti. E questi ultimi a seconda della loro tipicità, richiamano gente diversa e creano una composizione unica.
Con sapori, odori e colori irripetibili.
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Jan, looking for some “coverage ” of our visit to Siena!
Mary Jo and John
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