Exploring Europe's Great Food Markets

At the Mercato Centrale in San Lorenzo, one can taste the best food treasures Tuscany has on offer: from the olive oil of the Fiesole hills to the onions of the medieval borough of Certaldo and up to the Natural Reserve of San Marcello with its Tuscan cured meats. Here the simple and genuine tastes are king.

The 'green' city of Germany has an incredible gothic cathedral with a food market at its feet. Every morning, six days a week, farmers from the Black Forest bring their trout and herb pestoes, wild berries, and smoked ham to the city. Be it a vegan wurst or a tasty cheesecake, here the surprises never finish!

The CentralTirgus is the biggest covered city food market in Europe. Just aside the Art Nouveau Old Town, we find century-old rye-bread making, grilled lampreys, soviet milk sausages, and hemp butter. Here the best of Latvian traditions are pushed fast-forward into the digital era by young and curious chefs, bloggers, and pop-up restaurants.

The pink city hosts a coffer full of world-famous food treasures. The Victor Hugo Market has black truffles of Quercy, Rocamadour cheese, foie gras, and white beans of the most traditional Cassoulet on sale. And Michelin-starred chef Michel Sarràn gives us his tips on what the belly of Toulouse really is.

The old ladies selling their baskets full of vegetables and cheese on the Dolac market in Zagreb bring us back in time. At the market, we go from the breathtaking Mediterranean islands to the Austrian Alps, from freshly caught hake and simple Baltic snacks to internationally awarded cheese and a unique Turkey breed.