At various places in the city you can find small ark-shaped hatches in the outer walls of old patrician houses. Some still have the authentic wooden shutter, while others are bricked. We are dealing here with a typical antique Florentine custom, which cannot be found in other Italian cities.

The vineyards outside the city walls were all owned by the patrician families and served primarily to produce wine for their own use. On regulation of the Signoria (city council) they were allowed to sell their wine surplus to the public solemnly through the wine hatches.

In Via delle Belle Donne, on the corner with Via della Spada there is a well-preserved wine window with a sign above it that contains information about the opening hours.

The cellar is open for sale from November first till April from 9 am to 2 pm and from 5 to 8 pm.
From May first till October from 8 am till 3 pm and from 6 to 9 pm.
On holidays open until 3 pm.