Ring a bell, order a glass of wine and get it delivered through a small window – one of the top things to do when visiting Florence. The wine windows of Florence, also known as buchette del vino, are arched, small windows that can be found in the walls of historical buildings around the city. These windows date back all the way to the 16th century. Today the wine windows in Florence are part of the city’s architectural heritage, so by ordering a glass of wine through a wine window, you are tasting some Florentine history.
The history of the Florentine wine windows
The wine windows were first established by wealthy families who owned vineyards and wanted to sell their wine directly from their homes to bypassing customers. When the plague hit Florence in the 1600s these little windows were a safe way for shopkeepers to sell wine and food with minimum contact with other people. Still today it is believed that there are 285 wine windows in Florence, although many of them sealed off. However, the interest in restoring these wine windows has grown over the past years and below are some of my favorite wine windows in Florence, very well functioning and worthy of a visit.
Cantina De´ Pucci
Characteristic: Bell to ring before ordering
Price: €7 for a glass of wine
Location: Via de’ Pucci, 4
This was the first wine window I visited. It is close to the Duomo of Florence so it’s a perfect stop on your explore Florence walking tour. This wine window had a bell to ring which was fun, and the guy inside serving the glass was so nice and happy. Cantina de’ Pucci also has a small outdoor seating for the person who wants to enjoy their glass of wine sitting down.
Osteria Belle Donne
Characteristic: Adorable flower arrangement outside the wine window
Price: €5 for a glass of wine
Location: Via delle Belle Donne, 16R
Osteria Belle Donne has a beautiful flower arrangement around the window, making it very picturesque. This one was also fun to visit because of the area it was located in. On the other side of the road there was a small art shop and they had a sign specifically saying it was okay to bring your glass of wine. So I did and walked around watching these cute posters and magnets.
Fiaschetteria Fantappié
Characteristic: Hanging bell to ring when ordering
Price: €6 for a glass of wine
Location: Via dei Serragli, 47
This wine window is not as well-known as for example Osteria Belle Donne but ended up being one of my favorites. It had this cute little hanging bell to ring when ordering and it was not at all as crowded as many other wine windows could be, which I really appreciated. A bonus is that this wine window also had an outdoor seating. For the wine enthusiast, this is a wine shop. So after finishing your glass you might want to go inside and have a look at some bottles.
Babae
Characteristic: Iconic location with the yellow wall
Price: €8 for a glass of wine
Location: Via Santo Spirito, 21R
Babae is the most famous and iconic wine window in Florence that can be found in a beautiful, yellow stone wall. If you are on your way to the Santo Spirito plaza, you will probably walk past this window. Why not stop for a glass and enjoy it on the sidewalk? At this window you can pay extra to get a glass to go, that you also get to keep. A fun souvenir to bring home from your Florence trip!
The wine windows are a symbol of Florence’s rich historical connection to wine production and commerce. If you are interested in a guided tour, it is available for those visitors interested in exploring their history more. Otherwise you just show up and order a glass.
