I have always had a passion for markets. Fresh produce straight coming from the farmers, cheeses, condiments, clothes, shoes, accessories, shoes, but also home objects. Strictly fresh, honest, low-price, and practical.
My journey in Milan began with a treasure hunt across different farmers’ markets in the city, in search of kitchen essentials, unique clothes, and an authentic view of the local Milanese people. Among all these markets in Milan, there is probably no more vibrant place like the one in Viale Papiniano. Upon entering the characteristically mundane plaza, I was immediately catapulted into the old-fashion market atmosphere. Through seeing carefully at the intense color and looking closely to the natural human interactions, I want to present the veracity of the local life in Milan, a part of Milan that is less represented in mass media.
Passion for cheese has already become an important identity of being Italian. Milanese are no exception, and they for sure know what is good taste. Cheese, "formaggi" in Italian, come in amazingly diverse variety and quantity in Papiniano market. Each cheese stand has its own speciality and character. My favorite, however, is the organic cheese stand that sells truffled-flavor cheese exclusively. By one little bite, the indescribable flavor of minerals from that far-awar mountain has already convinced me.
It’s a great opportunity to see what fruit and vegetables are in season and Italy has a fantastic range of diverse produce in all seasons. As what you would expect at a market, there is also the usual yelling and bargaining conversations, which makes it much more lively than a normal supermarket. The stand of Muhammad, a young immigrant from Pakistan, is my go-to place because he always greets me with a warm smile and often discounts.
Jiaqi Luo
<p>Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Spanish, English and currently perfecting her Italian, it's clear why Jiaqi chooses her next adventure in the dynamic capital of Milan! An art lover and a free spirit, Jiaqi is now majoring in Art History and Latin American Studies at the University of Richmond. During high school, a month of staying with a host family in Helsinki, Finland opened the doors to a world of exotic saunas, lake kayaking, and inspired her wanderlust. A self-proclaimed travel sensualist, her favorite way of seeing the world is experiencing the culture through its people: she's volunteered in rural Nepal, conducted Holocaust research in Poland, and has lived with seniors in Spain.</p>
