The second-hand market, or ‘mercatino dell’usato’, is thriving in the Lucchesia with several outlets in the area.
Two of my favourites are ‘Mercatopoli’ in the Arancio area of Lucca. Their website is quite well organised with a list of items on sale and can be found at:
The other is the ‘mercatino dell’usato’ which can be found near the straight stretch of road leading into the city from Bagni Di Lucca. Its web site is not so brilliant and is at:
It’s best just to turn up and see what wonders are found in this veritable Aladdin’s cave. Here is a random selection of things we chanced upon yesterday stored in the cavernous holds of this ex-factory:
As can be seen there’s everything to be found here and most of it is adequately organized (apart from the clothes section which is a dismal jumble – although my wife managed to find a couple of attractive items.)
The mercatino (little market) is really a mercatone (big market) and one could happily spend some hours bargain-hunting in it. I was particularly drawn to the outside salvage section with garden furniture and various house fittings.
Italy does not have a panoply of charity shops such as can be found in the UK but it more than makes up for this with its mercatini. These bric-a-brac depositories can also be useful if one is moving, down-sizing or just getting rid of superfluous clutter: one takes one’s stuff to the mercatino and agrees a selling price. The shop adds its own commission and the longer the item remains unsold the lower its price becomes.
I try to de-clutter from time to time and the mercatini certainly do help!