SUMMER
Arezzo, Italy
While most travellers head to Florence when visiting Tuscany, for antiques it’s worth seeking out the city of Arezzo to the south-east. It’s replete with museums and historical monuments, from the frescoes
of San Francesco Basilica to the Museo Nazionale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna, housed in a Renaissance palace.
Plus, the 16th-century Palazzo delle Logge was designed by Giorgio Vasari (best known for planning the Uffizi in Florence). Beyond the monuments, Arezzo is also home to Italy’s largest open-air antiques fair, which takes place on the first Sunday of the month in the historic centre. Fiera Antiquaria was started in 1968 by antiques dealer Ivan Bruschi, as the first event of its kind in Italy.
Today, over 500 exhibitors fill Piazza San Francesco, Piazza Grande and the Logge Vasari with stands selling paintings, books, prints, modern antiques, toys, glass, watches, porcelain, curiosities, and more. It’s also worth exploring the city’s narrow ancient streets in search of antiques stores. fieraantiquaria.org
Barcelona, Spain
Visiting Barcelona during the summer months goes hand in hand with browsing its many markets. The most well-known (and one of the oldest markets in Europe, that dates back to around 1300) is the Fira
de Bellcaire, or what most people know as El Mercat dels Encants.
In 2013, it moved to the uber-modern Plaça de les Glòries, a central plaza where three of the city’s main arteries converge – Avinguda Diagonal, Gran Via and Avinguda Meridiana. Beneath an impressive pergola of sloping mirrored roofs, you’ll find an incredible array of stalls to browse on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, surrounded by restaurants.
Another long-standing antiques market, founded 40 years ago, is Mercat Gòtic, or Gothic Market, held on Plaça Nova in the heart of the Gothic quarter. Located in front of Barcelona Cathedral, it’s usually open on Thursdays and during special events.
There are also some newcomers on the scene, including the Lost and Found Market, hosted once or twice a year on Plaça del Mar, on the edge of San Sebastian Beach. This buzzy summer market focuses on vintage and second-hand goods, so expect to be rubbing shoulders with the young, hip Barcelona crowd. encantsbarcelona.com; mercatgoticbcn.com; lostfoundmarket.com
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France
There are few places as dreamy as Provence in the summer, when roses climb up ancient buildings and fields are a hazy shade of lavender. When it comes to antiquing in France, buyers and dealers head over to the region of Vaucluse and pour into L’Isle- sur-la-Sorgue (the island on the Sorgue), which has become one of the largest antiques destinations in Europe.
Dotted with old waterwheels around every corner, the streets throng with tourists and dealers wandering near the riverside during its Sunday flea market, and browsing the shops. One of the best times to visit L’Isle-sur-la- Sorgue is during the Foire Internationale Antiquités & Brocante, held in Parc Gautier on the banks of the river Sorgue in April and August (14th-17th). There is even more to see, with dozens of dealers pitching up to add to the many permanent shops in town.
And when it comes to shops, don’t miss Le Village des Antiquaires de la Gare, an old silk mill housing over 80 dealers plus four art galleries across 3,000 square metres. In business since 1978, this iconic centre is the largest and oldest gathering of antique and second-hand dealers in the town, and will leave a lasting impression on you. sncao-syndicat.com/isle-sur-la-sorgue
AUTUMN
Paris, France
There’s something magical about Paris in autumn. The city’s parks become even more beautiful, and there’s an undeniable allure attached to cosying up in a Parisian café. For antiques lovers, there are two more very good reasons to visit at this time. To top the city’s famous flea markets (Le Marché aux Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen in particular), and vintage and antiques shops, there are two prominent industry fairs that take place close together in September.
First up, we have Foire de Chatou, which is the oldest and largest fair in all of France, drawing crowds to the affluent suburbs of north-western Paris. Held twice yearly in March and September, on the Ile des Impressionnistes in Chatou, this enormous event welcomes over 300 exhibitors and a staggering 25,000-30,000 visitors. It was originally called Foire aux Jambons (Ham Fair), as it dates back to the Middle Ages, when butchers would gather in Paris to buy and sell charcuterie; rather sweetly, you’ll still find jambon for sale today.
Then there is FAB Paris, a new fair to arrive after Fine Arts Paris and La Biennale merged two years ago. This high-end affair sees over 100 world-renowned art and antiques dealers converge under the iconic glass dome of the newly-restored Grand Palais. Expect a unique showcase of art, culture and French elegance. foiredechatou.com; fabparis.com
Le Landeron, Switzerland
We love antiques fairs that take us off the beaten track to somewhere a little less known. That’s why we’re keen on Fête de la Brocante, in the village of Le Landeron, on the edge of Lake Bienne in Switzerland: the largest open-air antiques fair in the country. This flea market festival, founded in 1974, is held once a year on the last full weekend of September, and sees over 300 antiques dealers pitch up, attracting over 100,000 people to the quaint little place.
On Friday, stalls are set up in and around the historic streets, including the Promenade du Bourg, which are packed with people for the weekend. A 1,800-metre trail takes visitors through a myriad of pieces for sale, as well as many tempting places to relax and eat.
The medieval village of Le Landeron itself (population 5,000) is worth exploring in its own right, for beautiful, historical, coloured houses, medieval architecture, and pretty water fountains.
avvl.ch/brocante
Vienna, Austria
While it’s the place everyone heads to in the winter for its snowy rooftops and Christmas markets, we say avoid peak tourist hordes – and the extra expense – and mingle with the locals in Vienna during the autumn.
Every Saturday, one of the largest flea markets in Europe is held in the car park at the end of Naschmarkt, a popular meeting place for its food and shopping scene. The flohmarkt (German for flea market) is huge, and attracts people from across the city and beyond. It’s a perfect place for casual people-watching as much as it is for haggling over curios.
Another place locals head to is the Neubau neighbourhood, which has lots of independent shops, cafes and galleries. Here, on the main strip of Neubaugasse, alongside junk stores and vintage shops, there’s another festival-style flea market held twice a year, every spring and autumn; keep 26th-27th September free.
flaniermarkt.at; naschmarkt-vienna.com
WINTER
Brussels, Belgium
The Belgian capital has two whole streets devoted almost exclusively to interiors shops packed with vintage and antique pieces, as well as a weekly antiques market and some special antiques stores worth seeking out in the city’s shopping districts.
Every winter, the antiques offering in Brussels is further swelled by BRAFA. Europe’s longest-running fine antiques fair, BRAFA sees 130 leading galleries from 16 countries gather at Brussels Expo on the edge of the city for a week at the end of January and into February. Opening in 1956, and known for being one of the most eclectic art and antiques events of the European antiquing calendar, the fair features specialist dealers across many genres, including Old Masters, fine furniture, jewellery, porcelain and silver.
If a good rootle is more your thing, wrap up warm and seek out the daily Place du Jeu de Balle Market in Marolles district, as well as the Place du Grand Sablon Antiques Market on Saturday and Sunday mornings. brafa.art
Bamberg, Germany
When you think of Germany and antiques, you may consider Berlin or Munich as the hot destinations. Those in the know, though, count the Bavarian town of Bamberg as one of the country’s top spots. In fact, some say it has the greatest concentration of antiques in Germany, as its dedicated district by the cathedral is one to remember.
And the antiques aren’t the only reason to visit Bamberg, as it is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Bamberg was largely spared from destruction during the Second World War, which means most of the historic buildings have been preserved, many from the medieval period. There are beautiful buildings at every turn along the cobbled streets (you can’t miss the spectacular Old Town Hall), and it’s only fitting that antiques are prominent here to match the surroundings.
The antiques scene is so vibrant that the town has its own dealers’ association, which hosts an annual antiques fair with exclusive tours and lectures. In winter, Bamberg is extra special with a Christmas market, pretty decorations, nativity scenes, a light dusting of snow, and twinkling lights along the Regnitz River. bamberger-antiquitaeten.de
Prague, Czech Republic
The Czech capital is like walking into a romantic snow globe during the winter months, and it is one of the best places for flea markets in Europe – as well as featuring some top-notch antiques stores. You can take your pick of markets, as they come in all shapes and sizes; we recommend a trip in November before the Christmas rush.
On the last Saturday of the month, sellers set up under the trees in Řezáčovo náměstí (square) for the vibrant, community-led Heřmaňák flea market. Then there’s Kolbenova Flea Market, also known as U Elektry Flea Market, an enormous affair in the Vysocany district of Prague. Here, more than 600 dealers spread across 50,000 square metres sell anything and everything.
the Strahov Library. - -
Next up is (A)void, a small flea market held on a boat anchored on the River Vltava at the Naplavka riverbank. Opening every second Saturday of the month, you can find small collectables such as jewellery, coins, and textiles. Come Sunday, locals make for a small courtyard behind one of the city’s most famous landmarks, The Clementinum Astronomical Tower and Baroque Library, for a little market gathering run by an enterprising group of local antiques stores.
And if it’s fine antiques you prefer, time your visit to Prague with the Antiques Fair organised by the Czech Antique Dealers Association. Held every spring and autumn, the next edition is late November at the Karlovo náměstí in Novoměstská radnice (New Town Hall). asociace.com
SPRING
Newark-on-Trent, UK
With Newark-on-Trent being located in Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands, its antiquing scene draws people from across the UK. This historic town is saturated in remnants of the past, from the ruins
of the 12th-century castle to the Georgian townhouses.
These days, the name Newark is mostly associated with antiques. That’s partly due to the strong selection of stores, but mostly due to the famous Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair held at the Newark showground. Touted as the largest event of its kind in Europe, the fair brings us 84 acres of the most beguiling and comprehensive mix of antiques you’ve probably ever seen.
Around 1,500 stands offering an extraordinary range of pieces entice thousands of keen shoppers here. The in-demand event is held six times a year: every other month, with the next date in August. To further boost your discerning collector status while in the area, head up the road to the Lincolnshire showground on the Wednesday before the Newark fair (except in February) for the Antiques & Home Show. It’s been a firm fixture on calendars since 1995. iacf.co.uk; asfairs.com
Parma, Italy
The city of Parma in northern Italy is a place to visit for many reasons – the food, the music, the architecture, the heritage, and also the antiques. In the historic centre of Parma lies an area known as La via degli antiquari (the street of antiques dealers), along Via Nazario Sauro, just behind the Town Hall. As its name suggests, this district is home to a concentration of shops.
Beyond that hub, there are two markets to know about: one is a Tuesday vintage and antique market in Piazza Ghiaia. The other is a large antiques market that occurs every third Sunday of the month, in a small town called Fontanellato, 19km from Parma. This sees around 300 stallholders fill a vast area of 6,000 square metres.
What really puts Parma on the map in terms of antiquing, however, is the renowned twice-yearly Mercanteinfiera (named after the traditional Italian card game Mercante in fiera: ‘the merchant at the fair’) held every spring and autumn. This week-long, high-end event, held at Fiere di Parma exhibition centre on the edge of the city, is deemed one of the highlights in the European antiques calendar. It attracts a glut of buyers to peruse the extensive mix of treasures offered by 1,000 dealers. laviadegliantiquari.com; mercanteinfiera.it
Lisbon, Portugal
Spring is one of the best times to visit the Portuguese capital, as temperatures are pleasant, and the city’s iconic jacarandas are in blossom. The plant was introduced in the early 19th century from Brazil by the botanist Félix de Avelar Brotero.
Beneath these beautiful trees, you’ll find superb antiques shops, as well as many flea markets taking place. These include Feira da Avenida, held twice a month on Lisbon’s main avenue, Avenida da Liberdade, where 130 stalls combine antiques with food and contemporary craft. Feira Da Ladra, which takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays, is probably the most famous market in Lisbon, dating back to the 13th century and held behind the monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Campo de Santa Clara since 1903.
Spring is also a good time to visit Lisbon for serious collectible hunting, to tie in with Portugal’s largest Art and Antiques Association event, LAAF (Lisbon Art & Antiques Fair). Each May, at the Cordoaria Nacional – an 18th-century former naval rope-making factory turned exhibition centre in the Belém district – dozens of leading antiques dealers from Lisbon and beyond gather to sell, showcase, and simply talk antiques all week. apa.pt