Buchette del vino: The Wine Windows of Florence

Scattered across Florence, in the narrow streets, is a curious architectural feature that many visitors walk past without noticing. Set into the walls of grand Renaissance palaces are tiny arched openings, barely large enough to pass a bottle through. These openings, known as buchette del vino or “wine windows,” were originally created to sell wine directly from aristocratic estates to ordinary citizens. While they were born out of economic necessity in the 16th century, these small windows gained renewed importance during periods of epidemic disease, helping Florentines conduct business while minimizing physical contact.

A wine window, still functioning. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The origins of Florence's wine windows can be traced to the late Renaissance. In 1559, Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici issued regulations that allowed noble families owning vineyards to sell wine directly from their urban residences without relying on taverns or middlemen. By selling directly to consumers, they could avoid certain taxes and increase their profits.

To facilitate these sales, small openings were built into the street-facing walls of palaces. They are typically oval or arched in shape and just large enough to pass a flask or bottle. These windows enabled customers to purchase wine without entering the building. A servant inside would receive payment and hand over the wine through the opening. The arrangement was convenient, efficient, and helped preserve the privacy of the noble households.

The wine windows proved especially valuable during outbreaks of infectious disease. Europe was periodically ravaged by plague long after the devastating Black Death of the 14th century. Florence experienced several outbreaks, including severe epidemics in the 17th century. During these crises, minimizing direct contact between people became an important means of limiting the spread of disease. Wine windows allowed owners of vineyards to sell wines as well as customers to buy them without coming into contact with each other.

A former wine window converted into a mailbox. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

As Florence modernized during the 19th and 20th centuries, the wine windows gradually fell out of use. Changing commercial practices, the rise of modern wine shops, and urban redevelopment rendered many of them obsolete. Some of them were bricked up, others were converted to doorbells or mailboxes or niches.

Interest in the windows revived in the 21st century thanks to historians and preservation groups dedicated to documenting Florence's architectural heritage. Researchers identified and catalogued hundreds of surviving examples throughout the city. Their efforts drew attention to a little-known aspect of Florentine history and helped preserve the windows for future generations.

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The wine windows gained unexpected international fame during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. As restaurants and cafes sought ways to serve customers while maintaining social distancing, several establishments reopened their historic wine windows, passing glasses of wine, coffee, cocktails, and even ice cream through the centuries-old openings.

Today, more than 150 surviving wine windows have been identified in Florence. More are found in other towns in Tuscany, from Pistoia to Siena. However, only a handful are still functioning as wine windows.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons