Loggia del Mercato Nuovo was built right in the center of Florence as far back as the 16th century. It is a three-aisled stone shelter supported by columns. In the past, there was a market here where silk and gold items had been traded since ancient times. And now you can buy leather bags, jackets, souvenirs, and various trinkets made by local craftsmen. Just as it did hundreds of years ago, this Loggia still shelters merchants from rain, snow, and strong wind.
This place is also often called the Porcellino Market because on its southern side there is a fountain with a statue of Porcellino (in different versions, it is described as a boar or a wild boar). This charming little boar (Porcellino) attracts hundreds of tourists who, following the tradition, make a wish and rub its snout.
There is another attraction on the market grounds - the "wheel of shame" - a small circle made of different kinds of marble. In the past, debtors were tied to it as a warning to others, so that they would always pay on time. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find and see it today because stalls with goods stand all around it.
The corners of the Loggia used to be decorated with niches containing statues. Today only some of the sculptures remain.
