Campo dei Fiori Market

In the heart of old Rome, not far from Piazza Navona, lies the Campo dei Fiori Market, the city's most picturesque and folkloric market.

THE HISTORY OF CAMPO DEI FIORI

Before the fifteenth century the square did not exist and in its place was a meadow of flowers, hence the name. According to the legend, the name of the square comes from the Latin Campous Florae (that is the Field of Flora), a woman beloved by the Roman general Pompey, who had built his theater close to the market.

Around the mid-1400s Pope Callistus III, had the entire district renovated and arranged for the entire area to be paved. During this renovation many stately palaces were built including the palazzo Orsini, which stands right on the market. Over time the square became more and more a place of transit and an important commercial and cultural landmark for the city. In the surroundings there are many hotels, inns and artisan workshops.

In 1858 the square reach its current extension after the demolition of the houses on the north side between via dei Baullari and via del Gallo, and the relocation of the fountain previously placed in the center of the square.

CAMPO DEI FIORI MARKET

Campo dei Fiori is probably the oldest market in Rome. Since 1869, every morning except on Sundays, the square has been filled with colorful stalls selling fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and fresh fish.

Other stalls display legumes, rice, dried fruits, nuts and spices, while near the fountain are flower stalls.Among the specialities of the house, the ever-present Roman artichokes and other vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. At some stalls you can find vegetables already cut and ready to be used in a good minestrone or fresh mixed salads. Campo dei Fiori market is a feast for the eyes and palate!

And in the surroundings you will also find delicatessen shops, bakeries and much more! Campo dei Fiori is really the right place to buy some Roman specialties or get some food for a picnic: in summer you can cool off eating your snack on the lawn of one of the many parks in the city.

GIORDANO BRUNO'S EXECUTION

Campo dei Fiori has also sadly passed into history for being the site of punishments and executions. The large statue in the center of the square by sculptor Ettore Ferrari (1889) reminds us that on February 17, 1600, the philosopher and Dominican friar Giordano Bruno was burnt alive here, accused of heresy by the Church for his revolutionary theories about the universe.

The philosopher is depicted with his face pointed toward Vatican City, as if admonishing the Church. It might be a coincidence, but Campo dei Fiori is the only historic square in Rome without a church.

While during the day Campo dei Fiori shows his most traditional side, in the evening the square turns into an important meeting point for nightlife. Heterogeneous, noisy and cosmopolitan, Campo dei Fiori by night is full of tourists, young people and students who meet here, specially on the weekends, to enjoy a drink with friends in one of the many cocktail bars and clubs. The area is also full of small restaurants, outdoor cafes, cinemas and theaters.

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ROME FOOD TOUR IN CAMPO DE' FIORI