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When in Italy, order a coffee. And drink it like the locals standing at a bar. That's just what Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall did this morning when they visited the Mercato Sant' Ambrogio, a bustling market in the heart of Florence on the fourth day of their visit to Italy. 

The couple ordered a cappuccino each from Caffe Barni at the entrance to the market, which has been at the same site since 1873. Charles got served straight away and enthusiastically sipped the cup handed to him by the barrista. 

Camilla's only arrived just as the couple had to leave for a tour of the market. But she took a couple of sips of the scalding drink and told the owner, Paolo Baracani: 'I've not got time to drink it but it was very good.' The couple stopped off at a butcher's stall run for the last 40 years by Luca Menoni, who started working at the market when he was 13. 

Prince Charles and Camilla were in high spirits as they sampled Italian food and mingled with the locals at a busy food market in Florence on Monday

He told them: ' Florentines in particular appreciate good food and knowing where it came from. Everything we sell comes from the local area. The people here appreciate the market and the value of having somewhere where they can talk about where what they will eat comes from. ' 

Also on their route was La Botteghina Dell'Augusta, a delicatessen, where the couple were offered samples, before ploughing their way through the ten-deep crowds surrounding stalls packed shoulder high with fruit and vegetables. The couple smiled and took the mobbing in their stride, however.

Finally they made their way into an event run by an old friend of Charles, Carlo Petrini, Founder of the Slow Food Movement.

Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization, founded in 1989 to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, to counteract the rise of the fast food culture.

It is an international movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries.

Charles was in his element as he was shown around several stalls displaying enticing local delicacies including ham and pecorino cheese from the Abruzzo region as well as areas affected by the earthquakes of 2016.

He was fascinated by one stall displaying roveja, a type of pea which is grown high on the Sibillini mountain and then dried.

'It's so important to keep it going,' he said.

'I learnt a lot about food from my friend Antonio.l Carluccio thirty years ago.'

'Where do you grow this?' He asked.

'The mountain tells us where we should grow it,' he was told.

He and Camilla gamely tried dozens of samples, including a local beer made from potatoes.

As he nibbled a locally-made cheese the prince declared: 'Oh this is just wonderful.'

Charles and Camilla popped into Sant'Ambrogio Market to celebrate the Slow Food movement and meet local food producers of the Abruzzo region and areas affected by the earthquakes of 2016

The royal was in hysterical laughter as he heard a speech about the Slow Food movement 

Prince Charles certainly seems to be making the most of his tour of Italy and seemed keen to sample the culinary delights along the way 

Camilla also drank a glass of milk produced that morning: 'It's so fresh and really creamy,' she remarked

The Prince of Wales sipped on an espresso, whilst his wife sampled some cheese at the busy market

Camilla also drank a glass of milk produced that morning: 'It's so fresh and really creamy,' she remarked.

By the end of the event Charles tried to limit the amount of samples he tried, prompting Camilla to joke: 'He'a saving up for lunch.'

As they left to further chaotic scenes as the crowds surged forwards to meet them, she joked: 'I've lost him. Plus ca change!'

The couple are midway through a lengthy trip of Europe, taking in Romania and Austria too.

The visit, taken at the request of the British Government, is being viewed as a post-Brexit charm offensive. 

Slow Food is a global, grassroots organisation, founded in 1989 by Carlo Petrini to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions and to counteract the rise of the fast food culture. 

It is an international movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries. 

The Prince of Wales sipped on an espresso, whilst his wife sampled some cheese at the busy market.

The couple were certainly in high spirits as they chatted to local food producers who were desperate to get the royal seal of approval. 

Charles looked smart in a blue suit and tie, whilst his chic wife plumped for a flattering cream sun dress with a matching pashmina.

Charles looked smart in a blue suit and tie, whilst his chic wife plumped for a flattering cream sun dress with a matching pashmina

Prince Charles raised a glass in celebration of his trip to Italy as he and Camilla toured a local market 

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Sant'Ambrogio Market to celebrate the Slow Food movement and met the founder Carlo Petrini (R)

Slow Food is a global, grassroots organisation, founded in 1989 by Carlo Petrini to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures

The couple admired local fruits and chatted to locals about the organisation as part of their tour of Italy

The duo sniffed local fruits, admired the plethora of pastas on offer and also pinned a pair of red shoes, a symbol in protest about the violence against women, during a visit at Sant'Ambrogio market in downtown Florence. 

Yesterday, the Prince of Wales witnessed the devastation wreaked by a deadly earthquake which struck an Italian village and told the settlement's mayor the people of Britain sympathised with their plight.

Charles, 68, was taken into the rubble-strewn 'red zone' of Amatrice which was destroyed when the tremor brought down buildings and homes in the village and surrounding region killing almost three hundred people.

Wearing a hard hat he walked into the streets cleared of rubble but left in shadow by the shattered concrete and collapsed roofs of businesses, homes and shops.

But the royal also found time to enjoy a dish of the local pasta all'amatriciana and a glass of red wine.

It is an international movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries

Prince Charles was certainly in high spirits as he sampled some local cheese and ham

Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization, founded in 1989 by Carlo Petrini, left, to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures

Prince Charles and Camilla were delighted to visit Sant'Ambrogio Market to celebrate the Slow Food movement and meet the founder Carlo Petrini (R)

Prince Charles and Camilla visited 'Opificio Pietre Dure' art restoration workshop in Florence

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, a Florentine art restoration institution

The couple met restorers and students, viewed their work and observed some of the restoration practices

Members of the public went wild as Prince Charles and Camilla visit Sant'Ambrogio Market

He and Camilla gamely tried dozens of samples, including a local beer made from potatoes

Wellwishers gathered at the market with their camera phones to snap the royals

Prince Charles tasted a typical dish of pasta all'amatriciana on Sunday during his visit to the 2016 earthquake-hit town

The royal also found time to enjoy a glass of red wine during his visit to see the devastation of the quake-hit town 

The Prince of Wales eyed up the bowl of pasts presented to him earlier today during his week-long royal visit

Prince Charles meets Maria Paola Fioravanti (left) in her new home and Fernanda Ciamcaglijoni, 71 (right)

Ms Ciamcaglijoni 71, lost her home and business the quake that struck Amatrice in August last year 

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales greeted locals during his visit to the ruins of Amatrice earlier today 

The royal donned a hard hat as he toured the destruction and piles of rubble in the Italian village earlier today 

He walked up to the village's civic tower a grim reminder of natural disaster as its clock had stopped at the moment the 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Amatrice and nearby villages at 3.36am on August 24 last year.

When Charles first arrived he was greeted by Amatrice's Mayor Sergio Pirozzi and told him: 'The people in Britain mind very much what's happened to you all here.' 

Charles was greeted by emotional scenes as he toured Amatrice, outside the red zone, with one woman weeping after briefly welcoming him while a man clasped hands with the heir to the throne who hugged him in return. 

As he walked through the village to see where the emergency services and other organisations were based he stopped to talk to residents along the way asking one couple, 'Where are you living now?' and when they replied Rome, he added: 'Were you insured?'

The Prince of Wales, seen today wearing a hardhat and walking with a firefighter, has seen the devastation wreaked by a deadly earthquake which struck an Italian village

The deadly quake last year left almost three hundred people dead. Pictured, a man is rescued alive from the ruins following the earthquake last August 

Meanwhile, Camilla, 69, met with victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in Florence.

The Duchess of Cornwall met those helped by the Progetto Arcobaleno Association, which supports victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse.

The organisation works primarily in the city providing support to people including the homeless, the unemployed, drug or substance abusers, and those involved in prostitution. Its main aim is to promote citizens' rights and social welfare. 

Yesterday, while in Naples, Camilla visited a social centre for young people with mental health problems and women fleeing domestic violence.

The Duchess of Cornwall met those helped by the Progetto Arcobaleno Association, which supports victims of human trafficking and domestic abuse