Campo di Fiori and Mercato Trionfale, Rome, Italy

 

The Campo di Fiori is one of Rome’s oldest and continuously operating markets. The open square is named for the wild flowers that grew there, and dates back to ancient Rome. By the 15th century the area had become a public market, offering food, flowers, and livestock. Today the market at Campo di Fiori still sells food and flowers, and has added stalls that sell olive oil, liqueurs and tchotchkes aimed at the many tourists who visit.

Crossing the Tiber on the way to the Campo

On the back entrance to the Chiesa dei Santi Biagio

Chiesa Santa Barbera

 

The Campo di Fiori was also the place where Rome and the Vatican carried out executions during medieval and renaissance times. The most famous of these was probably Giordano Bruno, a philosopher, alchemist, and astronomer. Bruno was burnt at the stake in 1600 CE for putting forward the position that the sun, not the earth was at the center of the universe. He also proposed that stars were basically suns with their own planetary systems.

Statue of Giordano Bruno

Mercato Trionfale

If you want to skip the tourist crowds and see where locals shop, head to the Mercato Trionfale, Rome’s largest. This indoor market, with over 200 stalls, is just 400m north of the Vatican Museums. It is where the Romans who live in that neighborhood go for their everyday needs. In addition to a full variety of food, raw, salumeri, and prepared, there are also vendors who sell home goods, and even a tailor.

Nuts and Bolts

• Campo di Fiori - Via Balestrari and Piazza Campo di Fiori. The market is open Mon-Sat 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The pizza is surrounded with restaurants and bars that open through the late night hours.
• Mercato Trionfale - Via Andrea Dora 41, on the ground level of modern building. The market is open Mon-Sat 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM