How wine was sold through walls in Florence (13 photos)

In Florence, Italy, a unique architectural curiosity can be found on the exterior walls of many luxurious palazzos. These tiny, decorated openings, the size of a cat's nest, are located at about waist level. Each window is covered with a wooden or iron door, and many have door knockers.





For centuries, these miniature windows were used for the secret sale of wine. A customer wishing to purchase wine would knock on the door with a hammer. Then, a doorman appointed by the owner of the house would open it from the inside. The customer would place a few coins in the servant's hand, who would hand them a flask of wine.



Many noble Florentine families, who owned magnificent palazzos in the city center, also owned their own vineyards outside the city walls or in the countryside. Within the palaces, various supplies, including wine and oil, were stored in cellars or basements. To increase profits and avoid open market sales, winemakers devised a method of direct trade.





They cut small windows in the walls, facing the street at about waist level. These windows led directly to the cellar where the wine was stored. Customers would bring their own jug, bottle, or glass, slide it through the window, where it would be filled, the exchange would take place, and the transaction would be complete. These windows became known as "wine windows" or "boucette del vino."



Over time, other products began to be sold through them: olive oil, cured hams, sacks of flour, and baskets of vegetables. Sometimes, families would give food and wine to those in need through these windows as a charity. All a person had to do was knock on the door.



The practice of selling wine through such windows likely began in the early 16th century, following the return of the Medici family to power and the gradual decline of the wine syndicate. The first documents describing direct wine sales in the palazzos of producer families date back to 1559, but they make no mention of the existence of special windows.



At one time, the city boasted hundreds of wine windows. The Wine Window Association has identified more than 150 such structures that remain to this day, although wine can no longer be purchased from them. Most are firmly locked. Others have been bricked up permanently.



Most of them are no longer used for their intended purpose, serving as historical monuments. But in 2020, a surprising event occurred: some wine windows were temporarily brought back to life. Several bars and restaurants (such as Babae and Osteria delle Brache) began using them for contactless sales of coffee, cocktails, sandwiches, and even gelato. It was an ingenious safety measure that revived the original spirit of these structures—selling drinks through a small window.



Yes, there's even an official Wine Window Association (Associazione Buchette del Vino), which catalogs, studies, and preserves them. They've counted over 280 such windows in the historic center of Florence and have even created an interactive map for tourists.





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