I Found a Historic Wine Window in Florence & It Was Every Bit as Magical as I Hoped
- Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite
- May 9
- 2 min read
Certain travel experiences feel quintessentially Italian. Drinking espresso standing at a bar. Wandering sun-drenched piazzas at golden hour.
Ordering a plate of pasta so good that you immediately start planning your next trip back.
And then there’s discovering a wine window in Florence.
Tucked into the walls of historic palazzos across the city, Florence’s famous wine windows, known locally as buchette del vino, are one of Tuscany’s most charming traditions. I finally found one during my trip to Florence, and honestly, it was every bit as fun, romantic, and unforgettable as I imagined.
And of course, I had to order a glass of Chianti. Served through a tiny historic hatch in the wall, it somehow made the experience feel even more cinematic — a simple glass of Tuscan red becoming part of a centuries-old tradition.
It reminded me of the old village meeting spots back home. The places everyone instinctively gathered. “Meet you at the cross later?” If those steps could talk…
Wine windows first appeared in Florence during the 16th century, when wealthy Florentine families began selling wine directly from their palaces through tiny arched openings in the walls.
Instead of entering a wine shop or tavern, customers could simply knock on the little wooden hatch and receive a glass or flask of Tuscan wine directly through the opening. It was an early form of “wine to-go”, centuries before takeaway culture became a thing.
Today, many of these historic windows remain scattered throughout Florence and Tuscany, with some beautifully restored and brought back to life as working wine spots.
The wine window I visited belongs to Cantina de’ Pucci, a charming Florentine wine bar housed inside a historic palace in the city.
Standing outside the tiny hatch waiting for my glass of Chianti to appear felt strangely magical. There’s something wonderfully theatrical about it, the creak of the little window opening, the hand passing through a glass of Tuscan wine, tourists stopping to smile and take photos.
It’s one of those small travel moments that somehow becomes a core memory.
And yes… London absolutely needs wine windows.
Florence’s wine windows saw a huge revival in popularity during the pandemic, when businesses used them as a socially distanced way to serve drinks, coffee, gelato, and aperitivo snacks.
Since then, they’ve become one of the city’s most sought-after hidden gems, especially for wine lovers visiting Tuscany.
But beyond the Instagram appeal, they’re also a fascinating piece of Italian wine history and Florentine culture.
If you’re planning a trip to Tuscany and want to experience a real Florentine wine window for yourself, Cantina de’ Pucci is absolutely worth adding to your Florence itinerary.
📍 You can find the location here:
Whether you’re exploring Florence for a weekend, planning a Tuscany wine trip, or simply searching for unique wine experiences in Italy, this is one of those joyful little moments that make travel feel special.
A tiny historic hatch in the wall. A glass of Chianti passed through it. A tradition that dates back centuries.
Simple. Charming. Completely unforgettable.
If Florence is already on your travel list, make finding a wine window part of your adventure, preferably with a glass of Tuscan red in hand.
Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite x
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