The Market of Campo de’ Fiori

In the heart of the city of Rome, between Via dei Giubbonari and Piazza della Cancelleria, stands Campo de’ Fiori, a square full of charm and history that, over the centuries, has represented the thousand faces of the capital. There are numerous legends circulating about the name chosen for the square. According to popular tradition, it derives from the Latin Campous Florae or Camp of Flora, a woman loved by Pompey, a great Roman general. According to others, which are more reliable, the name was derived from the flowers that once adorned the square, which did not exist until the 15th century.

Since 1869, a lively and colorful outdoor market, among the oldest and most characteristic in all of Rome, has been held every morning except Sunday. At first, the market was a place to trade almost exclusively in fruits and vegetables, then over time meat, flower, and fish stalls were added. The market is not particularly large, but the quality and variety of products is above average. House specialties, depending on the season, include the ever-present Roman artichokes and other vegetables such as Romanesco broccoli.

Compared to the past today, the market has changed a lot, the peasant women who came daily from the countryside with their herbs and vegetables are now gone. Ready-made sauces for making amatriciana or gricia can now also be found among the counters. But in the core of the stalls the historic traders of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts and fish survive. Wandering among the stalls are also souvenirs for tourists looking for a memento to take with them.