In olden days in Florence, many of the owners of palazzi also owned vineyards and produced wine.
Ordinary folks (that would be you and me), could take their empty bottles (or whatever they used to hold wine in those days) to the palace of their choice, and put the empty container(s) and money into the little openings designed especially for this purpose. The lord of the manor, or more likely one of the servants, would replace the empty bottle(s) with wine from their vineyard. And, leave any change owing, I hope.
You can spot many of these former wine windows as you walk around in Florence. They really are like those pissotte in Venice, once you see one, you start to spot them all over the place. So, along with towers and tabernacles, you can look forward to being introduced to these little fragments from the history of Florence.
Here’s a little sample found in about half an hour this morning, in the Oltrarno (the ‘other’ side of the Arno River).
Good stuff Sister. Do you still have the cane for us students? 🙂
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I do indeed!
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So, old wine windows in Florence as opposed to old milk boxes in the US. 🙂
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I know which I would prefer to enjoy. 😉
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I lurk and read your blog regularly and have always enjoyed it. But today, I came across this article and immediately thought of it as a new-fangled way of getting a pissotte’s job done. 😉 So of course I thought of you and had to leave a comment!
http://www.gizmag.com/st-pauli-pee-back-super-hydrophobic-walls/36424/
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LOL! I love it that people think of me when they read about pissotte, and piddling in general. Thanks for being a lurker, Lina. 🙂
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What a fun bit of local history and current living. 😀
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Those wine windows are haunting me, they’re all I can see, Jet.
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How wonderful for you to be back in Italy! These windows are so charming. Have lots of fun!
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Hi, Anne. I sure will have a nice time, once the rain, earthquakes and tornados go away!
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Earthquake in Florence? Whoa, I wonder if Venice felt the effect? Tornados???
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Interesting find! My only thing is the graffiti – it always pains me to see it in Venice. I get so worked up about it! I wish I had a wine window in my neighborhood. 🙂
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I agree, Venice is being ruined by so many things, including the ugly graffiti. There seems to be less of it here, although I saw some near Santa Croce that reminded me of Venice.
I’d meet you at the local wine window, I think! 🙂
Oh, we had an earthquake early Wednesday morning!
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Aren’t they olden day cat flaps Yvonne ? 😉 ❤
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That’s probably what folks like us would use them for. Funny, I was just thinking about you last night, wondering how you are. oxo ❤
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I’m fine at home thank you my friend. I should know more this time next week.
I hope you didn’t get stuck in the little aperture 😉 ❤
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It was another of those embarrassing situations I get into, Ralph. But, the nice police people got me unwedged. 🙂
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Fascinating. And ‘that would be you and me’ – speak for yourself! Pretenzioso?
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I should have said “With the exception of Andrew”. Sorry, I do hope you will forgive me m’lord. 🙂
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I shared this post with my Italian class last evening….and of course had to explain pissotte. Ross, who was in Florence last summer, had done some sort of food tour (he’s a chef) and knew about the wine windows. Max, who is going this summer will be on the lookout for them and hoping to find an operational one I’m sure.
Your blog is such a wealth of information.
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Say “Ciao” to your classmates!
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So… Wine windows!… I truly liked them… Easy delivery I’d say….
Thanks for sharing dear Yvonne! … All the best to you! Aquileana ⭐
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You are very welcome, Aquileana.
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Oh, I love the first one with its little door. What an interesting little piece of history. Thank you.
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I’m so glad I happened to read about them, et.
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And then you shared them with us, so we will know to look too. Thanks.
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I didn’t know, next I’ll look for it!
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I’ll keep an eye out for them. Are you coming to Lucca?
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It’s definitely in my plans, Debra.
Did you feel the terremoto last night? I couldn’t believe what I was feeling!
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Love them, but i’m thinking the’re a bit like pregnant women — as in, when you are pregnant you suddenly see them everywhere.
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Is this your way tell me you have some interesting news? 🙂
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I’m going to enjoy looking out for these.
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You’ll soon see them, Hilary.
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Love the hand
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It looks rather creepy, doesn’t it!
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Another thing to look for when I return!!! Thanks…
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You are most welcome, Jane.
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How fun! They should still be used for mail delivery or something.
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I’ll knock on some doors and say you have suggested that, Emma. 🙂
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Don’t turn your nose up at the pissotte (!) Remember, if they fulfilled their primary function, there would be no unpleasantness about them. [I regard their possible anti-mugger function as secondary and highly improbable.]
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I also like the pissotte, Bert. Quirky little things they are. And I’m so pleased to have found these wine windows so quickly. I thought they’d be hard to spot.
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A fascinating collection. The first one is especially fine. Well uncovered.
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They’re terrific, Andrew. I was so pleased to find one with an original closure.
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I didn’t know about these. Thank you
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Hi, Derrick. I read about them in an excellent book: The companion guide to Florence, by Eve Borsook. I would never have known to look for them otherwise.
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Thank you, Yvonne. You have just added to my book buying addiction. I was able to find a used copy in good condition at Barnes and Noble for $1.99…..since it comes from a “market place seller” it’s not eligible for my free shipping so….shipping was $3.99.
I’ll have it for when I visit there again.
Oh, could have had a new copy for nearly $30!
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that’s brilliant! I didn’t know about it and I would guess most of the florentine people don’t know it either. Thanks 🙂
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Isn’t that true. At home, I walk past stuff that visitors notice and need to know about!
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that’s why I like blogs like yours 🙂
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Too bad about the graffiti.
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That’s for sure! But, I think overall, there seems to be less graffiti here than in Venice.
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Considering the intention of pissotte you would think they would have them just around the corner from the wine window.
I never see one in Venice without thinking of you. Probably not exactly what you would like to be remembered for.:-)
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Nah, we all seek fame in different ways. 🙂 I don’t mind being associated with pissotte, Michelle.
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And of course all of your fans will always think of you whenever they see one!
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Very interesting Y! And a bit more pleasant to gaze upon than pissotte!
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Well, now that you mention it, Susie … 🙂
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