In Florence, flea markets feel a lot more casual and community-based than big city shopping. Part of this is because there are usually dogs wandering around like it’s their daily routine, which it is! On weekdays there's the Sant’Ambrogio and Santa Croce markets with a lot of vendors set up. There’s pretty much always some kind of market happening somewhere in the city. Whenever there’s a market, there’s a high chance that a vendor’s dog will be roaming around, checking things out, and doing their own thing among the stalls like they’re part of the staff.
It depends on the day and what flea market you're at. Some are scruffy and older, some are small and energetic. The one I saw at Sant’Ambrogio was a small chunky dog with a calm face. He seemed as if he had been to thousand markets before, so nothing surprised him!
I love dogs, so spotting one at the market instantly made the whole experience better. However, I’m not the type to rush over and smother a dog with attention, especially when they’re clearly comfortable doing their own thing. I usually just hang back and let them decide if they want to come say hi. If they walk over and give me a sniff, that’s like the ultimate approval. If not, I’m still just happy they’re around.
