Fresh food and flowers from Italy with love…

July 2, 2021

Are you planning any trips now that travel has opened in most of the world? I am back in the south of France and can’t seem to stop hopping on the train to Ventimille {or Ventimiglia as the French spell it}, Italy. I wrote about THE big Friday Market before, where one can find great deals on linen, leather, cotton, sheets, cashmere, furs, jewelry and a million other things. But today, I want to focus the Mercato dei Fiori which is open everyday but Sunday until 1 – 2 pm.

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Most of the products that are sold here are from Italy and many come from the sun-drenched tiered farms on the hills above Ventimille.

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, abricocco, apricots, Sapor d'Italia

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, Tronbette, Liguria, Tronbette squash

If you come by train, to reach the mercato just go out the front doors of the stazione walk straight ahead down the Via della Stazione.

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, Via Della Stazione

Almost 2 blocks down, I highly recommend you stop at Caffé Paris for one of the best coffee drinks EVER!

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, caffé Paris

Their cappuccnos and macchiato are some of the best I’ve ever tasted. You can take a quick drink at the bar or sit down and enjoy some people watching and maybe get tempted by a few designer knock-off bags the sellers will bring to your table.

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, Caffé Paris, cuppucino

As the name of this mercato implies there are plenty of flowers here, again, many grown locally. They are all very fresh and the prices are incredible!

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, hydrangeas, local hydrangeas

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, local flowers, agapanthus, Lily's of the Nile

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, local flowers, Italian flowers, sunflowers, hydrangeas

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, locally grown flowers, bouquet

At the Scarfone stand, station #6, you can choose your favorite flowers and they will expertly arrange them for you. See the video of Antonio Scarfone arranging a bouquet for me on my instagram, Splendid7, over there->->->

Who wouldn’t want to receive this gorgeous arrangement??

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, Scarfone flowers, fiori, green hydrangeas, white spray roses

I’ve never had a man make a flower arrangement for me, much less a handsome Italian man, but Antonio knows his business!

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, Antonio Scarfone, green hydrangeas, white spray roses, custom bouquet

People come from miles around to stock up on the bounty of Italy, everything is so fresh and again the prices are unbeatable.

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, red onions

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, nectarines

Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie, cherries

In addition to the fresh products you can find a huge variety of cured olives, sun dried tomatoes, tuna stuffed peppers, fresh truffles and other Italian delicacies.

green olives with herbs and chili flakes, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Sun dried tomatoes, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Peppers stuffed with tuna, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Black cured olives, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

The selection of fresh pastas, cured meats, Italian pastries, pestos and other sauces is incomparable.

Fresh Gnocchi, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Fresh pastas, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Italian pastries and breads, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

And then, of course there are the olive oils, SO MANY different olive oils, most pressed locally. Many vendors offer tastings so you can choose one just as sweet or peppery as you desire.

Italian olive oils. Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

The sunspots on these nectarines indicate that they are very sweet.

Noce Bianca, Italian nectarines, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Squash blossoms ready to stuff, batter and fry.

Squash blossoms, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Sweet red peppers, sweet yellow peppers, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

These white beans {fagioli’s} are soaked in water and ready to cook.

white beans, fagioli, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Grape tomatoes on the vine, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie — Grape tomatoes on the vine from Sicily

These are my favorite tomatoes, meaty and flavorful.

Hearty tomatoes, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

dark cherries, cilegie, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Eggplants, melanese, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie — Eggplants or Melanzane from Sicily

Fichi, figs, Puglia, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie

Nespole, Loquats, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie — Nespole or Loquats from Scicily

Fichi, figs from Puglia, Mercato dei Fiori, Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimille, Italie — Figs from Pulgia

Before hopping on the train back to France, I recommend having lunch. There are many restaurants on the beach with amazing seafood where you can have a long lunch, but I am hooked on the Paninis at Caffé Cavalier at 19 Via Roma, this one made with foccacia bread dotted with green olives was too satisfying for words!