Considered to be the oldest market in Rome, Mercato di Campo De’ Fiori colors the streets of Piazza Navona from Mondays to Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 02:00 PM since 1869, when it was first held. At first, Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori was only selling fruits and vegetables but, nowadays, many more interesting items are sold at this market.
Let’s find out something more about Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori and why it’s worth going if you are touring in Rome!
The historical roots of Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori
As mentioned before, Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori was first held in 1869 and, at the very beginning, it used to only have fruit and vegetable stands. Later on, as the market grew along with its popularity, other food stands appeared, such as meat and fish stands, accompanied by beautiful and colorful flower stands.
Something that not many people know is that before the XV century, the infamous square that houses this market used to be covered in flowers and, because of this, it got its current name. The square was built when Pope Callistus III chose to have this district paved in the middle of the XV century. It quickly became one of the most important commercial and gathering spots in the city.
Famous characters and stories of Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori
This market is quite famous for its main characters, who populate the square and give life to it thanks to their historic stands. Let’s explore some of the most popular ones:
- SIGNORA FRANCA: this woman has been coming to the market for over 80 years. She used to help her mother attend to customers at the vegetable stand. Nowadays, you can find her selling vegetables at the same stand with her sons. Her vibrant energy will surely light up your day!
- MUSTAFÀ: a man who even created a YouTube channel to showcase his selling skills at his fruits and vegetable stand;
Mario Bonnard’s “Campo de’ Fiori”: a Movie celebrating the Market
Many people know this market through Mario Bonnard’s “Campo de’ Fiori”. For those of you who don’t know, Mario Bonnard was a movie director. He chose to showcase the beauty of Mercato di Campo De’ Fiori by making a movie about it. The movie focuses on the love story between two stand owners: Elide and Peppino (portrayed by Anna Magnani and Aldo Fabrizi).
Conclusion
If you are visiting Rome, you definitely can’t miss out on seeing the beauty and the atmosphere of Mercato di Campo de’ Fiori. If you want to get to know more about the Eternal City, make sure you check out our other blogs!
