Return to The Cascine photos

The term "Cascine" (Ka SHEEN E) is given to a place and to an event.

The place is Le Cascine. The 300-acre park, extending 3 km along the north bank of the Arno River at the west end of Florence proper, was originally a private garden of the Medici family (1400s), but in the 19th century was set aside as a public park. Today, it contains walking and riding paths, a race track, a speedway, a shooting range, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.

The event is shown in these pictures. Every Tuesday morning, one path along the river sprouts hundreds of booths for a combination farmer's market, swap meet, and odds-and-ends merchant sales. The market stretches at least a half-mile, with booths on either side of the path. One can buy clothes of all sorts, housewares, bed and table linens, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, breads, spices, etc. etc. Many things are cheaper here than in the stores, but others are about the same. It would remind southern Californians of the weekend swap meets at the drive-in theatre lots or Orange County Fair Grounds, etc. St. Louisans would recognize fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm, as in Soulard Market.