Whispers Through the Wall: Discovering Florence’s Wine Windows

Florence is a city that speaks in hushed tones and hidden details. Its grandeur is obvious—the Duomo’s dome, the Uffizi’s masterpieces, the sun-drenched bridges spanning the Arno—but some of its most captivating stories are told through the tiniest of architectural features. Look closely at the old stone palazzos, and you’ll find them: small, arched openings just large enough to pass a bottle of wine through.

These are Florence’s wine windows, or buchette del vino—a quiet marvel of history, ingenuity, and Italian charm.

🍇 A Taste of the Past

The story of the wine windows begins in the 1600s, when Florentine noble families who owned vineyards wanted a way to sell their wine directly to the public without involving taverns or merchants. The solution? A humble hole in the wall, carved into the stone facades of their residences, just big enough to hand over a flask and take a few coins in return. These wine windows were clever, discreet, and surprisingly ahead of their time.

But it was during the plague outbreaks of the 17th century that the buchette del vino took on new importance. They offered a way to safely sell wine without direct contact—centuries before “social distancing” was ever a phrase. The exchange was simple: knock, pay, receive wine. Minimal contact. Maximum satisfaction.

For hundreds of years, these tiny portals were forgotten—bricked up or left to weather. That is, until 2020.

✨ History Repeats Itself

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Italy, something remarkable happened. A few businesses in Florence reopened their wine windows to offer safe, contactless service once again. Locals queued up for glasses of wine, scooped gelato, and even espresso—all passed through a centuries-old buchetta. It was as if the city had whispered to its past and found an answer for the present.

And just like that, Florence’s wine windows were back—reminders that sometimes, old solutions still have a place in the modern world.

🍷 The Best Wine Windows to Visit in Florence

Whether you're a history lover, a wine enthusiast, or simply enchanted by Florence’s quieter stories, these are the top spots to experience the magic of the buchette del vino:

1. Babae – Via Santo Spirito 21R

Arguably the most famous active wine window in Florence today. Order a glass of wine or a spritz right through the buchetta. The ambiance is cool and modern, nestled in the artsy Oltrarno neighborhood, yet it honors its historical roots. Go around aperitivo hour for the full vibe.

2. Osteria delle Brache – Piazza Peruzzi 3R

This historic window is no longer in use, but it’s a beautiful example of original 17th-century architecture. The restaurant is charming and worth visiting for traditional Tuscan fare and a peek into the past.

3. Vivoli Gelateria – Via Isola delle Stinche 7R

Florence’s oldest gelateria serves scoops of joy straight through a wine window. Sweet history meets even sweeter dessert—perfect for kids or the young at heart.

4. Cantina dei Pucci – Via de’ Pucci 6R

This wine window isn’t always operational, but the restaurant is warm and welcoming, and the buchetta is well-preserved. A lovely stop on a walking tour.

5. DIY Wine Window Tour

Want to hunt them all? The Wine Window Association (Associazione Buchette del Vino) offers maps and photos of dozens of wine windows scattered across the city. Some are bricked up, others still in use—but each one is a piece of living history waiting to be discovered.

🥂 Pro Tips for the Curious Traveler

• Go in the early evening, when the golden hour light warms the stone walls and the wine flows freely.

• Look low and look carefully—many buchette are hidden close to the ground, beneath flower boxes or beside wooden doors.

• Bring a notebook or journal. There’s something romantic about sipping wine from a hole in the wall that’s seen 400 years of stories. You might feel inspired to write your own.

  
  

Final Sip

Florence doesn’t shout its stories. It whispers them—through frescoes, through footsteps on ancient stone, and through tiny arched windows that once poured Chianti in a time of plague.

The buchette del vino are more than curiosities. They’re quiet symbols of resilience, community, and the enduring beauty of simple pleasures.

So next time you’re in Florence, keep your eyes low, your heart open, and your glass ready. There’s a whole world waiting—just through the wall.