Florence Returns to the 16th Century with 'Wine Windows'

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the restaurant sector hard, forcing many restaurants, bars, and cafes to close their doors. Others have tried to distinguish themselves from the rest to survive, which is why some restaurants in Florence have revived an old tradition of the city: the 'wine windows' for distributing food and drinks.

On the walls of many of these establishments, you can find small openings known as 'buchette del vino', originally used to sell wine for takeout more quickly and even evade taxes on alcohol sales. Now, with the coronavirus crisis looming, some places in Florence have been able to take advantage of the minimal contact these 'wine windows' offer.

But it's not just wine being sold through the 'buchette'. Gelateria Vivoli was the first to revive this Florentine tradition in May to sell their ice creams and coffees in the safest way possible. Following the success of this initiative, other restaurants like Babae, Osteria delle Brache, and Il Latini also joined in and reopened their windows.

And although the 'buchette del vino' have always had a purely commercial purpose, they were useful during other pandemics in the past. This was the case during the Black Plague that ravaged Italy in the 16th century, as, even though at that time it was not known how the disease was transmitted, people sought to minimize contact.

Thus, these windows are a glimpse into the past and the architecture of that era, and it has only been recently that many Florentines have noticed these openings in the walls. Due to their uniqueness and heritage value, a great way to explore Florence is through a route that visits some of its 180 'wine windows' and, along the way, enjoy a good glass of wine.