Mercanteinfiera was created in 1982 almost by chance.

It began with the advantage of being situated in an enviable geographical position (the ancient town of Parma is in the middle of one of the most important collector regions in Italy) and an innovative philosophy: that of being a trend-setting and fascinating show-market of contemporary bric-a-brac (our first and leading invention) and antique collector items.

An exciting, dynamic event that is never the same.
From the hundred-or-so exhibitors and 20,000 visitors of the first show, a vigorous success story and growth has led to the current dimension of a true colossal in the antique world and a natural multiplication.

Nowadays, Autumn Mercanteinfiera and Spring Mercanteinfiera each act as host more than 1,000 exhibitors from all the Italian regions and from the most important European countries, plus thousands of foreign professional visitors and a traditional public of 70/80,000 collector enthusiasts.

Two fairs that always differ from each other also thanks to a kaleidoscopic turn-over of goods and collector proposals backed by a system of collateral events that, since 1982, has produced about 200 satellite-shows all of which unusual, unique, bizarre and surprising.

Throughout all these years, Mercanteinfiera has offered its vast public antique circuses, luxury bawdy-houses, futurists, self-confessed forgers, erotic Barbie dolls, masters of design and the decorative arts, titled motor cars and amazing collections of antique toys, jewellery, incunabula, picture cards, servers and robots, signed photographs.