L'articolo descrive il famoso mercato in Umbria chiamato Bastia. Ogni venerdì mattina, il mercato offre specialità regionali come: verdure, ortaggi, frutta e altri alimenti da vendere. Molte persone vanno ad acquistare prodotti di stagione e coltivati senza pesticidi. Ci sono anche una varietà di formaggi e salumi in vendita. Puoi anche trovare articoli per la casa e abbigliamento.

All over Italy, outdoor markets offer tempting local goods each week. 

Many are seasonal; however, others import products from other areas of the country to share with their locals.

In February, many stands at the Friday morning Bastia Umbra market near Assisi displayed juicy oranges and tangerines from southern Italy. Some vendors sold citrus fruits non trattati (not treated) with pesticides. Often flanking the oranges (a wintertime fruit) were finocchi (fennels), a wintertime vegetable. At some stands, another popular winter vegetable, la bietola (Swiss chard) was available.

Cauliflower is another favorite winter vegetable offered at many markets. Eggplants, raised only in greenhouses during the winter, were available here and there. Carrots, various salads, and cavolo romanesco (also called romanesco broccoli) and spinach joined the other winter vegetables. Broccoli bunches, radicchio trevisano, and radicchio – a vegetable similar to chicory with deep red and white leaves – is readily available in the markets. A wonderful way to prepare radicchio is to bake it in a woodfired oven after splitting each bunch in half. Then drizzle the slices with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and sprinkle with salt.

Gobbi alla parmigiana (cardoon parmigiana) is part of the Christmas luncheon feast in Umbria. Gobbi, or cardoons, patate dolci (sweet potatoes), artichokes (from Puglia), and tomatoes (very popular though not a seasonal vegetable) are typically stacked on the market tables. Funghi (mushrooms) are another sought after item.

I never leave the Bastia Umbria Friday morning market without stopping at the booth of the pugliesi for their tasty spicy olives (olive piccanti). Savory prosciutto, various local cold cuts and cheeses, dishes and various household items, clothes, plants and flowers are also sold at Italy’s weekly outdoor markets.

On your next trip to Italy, check out the weekly local mercato all’aperto (“open air market”)!