Wine holes from the Bubonic Plague return during the age of COVID-19 in Italy

A slice of history has now been revived in Tuscany, Italy, and it seems like the perfect solution of our pandemic times. Wine holes that are handing out drinks to people in a safe way have come up, with social distancing protocol intact. The wine windows are called buchette del vino, and are a great way to treat people in need of a quick drink, or even a cup of coffee.
You will be astonished to know that the wine windows or buchette del vino are not a 21st century invention. These were originally in use during the 1400s in Italy. The working class was served surplus wine through these windows during the bubonic plague. From that pandemic to this, seems like this is a pandemic tradition that the country has been following. Back in the olden days, the customers would hand over their flasks through the window and get them filled with wine. Just like the COVID-19 pandemic, people would not hand money directly. The coins were also disinfected with vinegar.
These tiny windows have small wooden doors, and there are about 100 of these in Florence alone. Businesses are adapting the old way simply because it is a great way to practice social distancing, and keeping their business alive.

In a way, the pandemic has brought back these windows that were once fading. Tourists were usually overlooking these windows, and moving on. But now they are being forced to take note of these lovely little wine holes. The Buchette del Vino is in fact a non-profit organisation that aims to promote these windows. This was started by Matteo Faglia, Diletta Corsini, and Mary Christine back in 2015. Of course, in 2020, it has found a new meaning.