Tin Sheds
A shaded piazza, Piazza Domenico Peranni, tucked in behind Palermo’s cathedral, is lined with old tin sheds filled with a wonderful array of antiques and charming objects.
This colourful, faded flea market, il Mercato delle Pulci, has been selling old wares for somewhere near 60 years. And fathers have handed their shed to sons to continue the trading of old Italian and Sicilian treasures.
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Candelabras
On Wednesday last week, I parked in a side street next to the market and entered the piazza near a shed belonging to a yellow hatted trader.
It was just before lunch and over half the dealers were shut. I was looking for a couple of old candelabras to light the table for a special dinner to be held at The Sicilian House in Polizzi Generosa for a group of travellers touring Sicily.
Lights and treasures
Traders sat outside their shops chatting and lounging and they left browsers alone to wander between furniture stacked with candlesticks and crockery and under ceilings hung with elaborate Italian lights.
A pair of Sicilian candelabras bargained
I found two Sicilian candelabras. From memory they were late 19th early 20th century. A price was bargained, and Maurizio, the son of Gaetano who started his shed 60 years ago, wrapped the bronze candelabras carefully. It was close to 1pm and he was closing for an hour to have lunch.
I want to return to this market one day when more traders are open. Maybe I was a little late in the morning, too close to lunch.
According to Balarm Il Mercato delle Pulci is open everyday until sunset and on holidays until 1pm.
Salve
Suzanne
