Ceni

Walking into Ceni’s, or even just peering through the windows, is a feast for the eyes, with sacks of cereals, flour and rice (30 or so varieties) on display as they are, their contents sold loose without packaging. This policy, designed to respect the environment, is shared by the majority of customers. The same commitment translates, wherever possible, into collaboration with small growers and the pursuit of niche products that are not always easy to source, such as Ustica lentils, Leonforte broad beans, Sicilian black lentils, and Lucca zolfino and red beans. The shop also boasts a vast range of dried fruit and sugar- and preservative-free dried vegetables. There are approximately 3,000 articles on sale and every corner of this historic emporium, situated by the Porta Palazzo open market is packed to the rafters. Other goods on sale include tisanes and natural infusions, chocolate, cream spreads, and Christmas panettoni and Easter colombe from reliable producers. The flower, fruit and vegetable seeds are very popular with ethnic customers and there is no shortage of cosmetics either.