Campo dei Fiori, a square in the historic center of Rome, is one of the best squares in Rome. During the day, the square is the site of the city’s best-known morning open-air market, which has been operating since 1869. If you’re staying in a vacation rental or looking for a food-related souvenir or gift, head to Campo dei Fiori market.
At night, after fruit and vegetable vendors, fishmongers, and flower vendors have packed up their stalls, Campo dei Fiori turns into a hub of nightlife. Numerous restaurants, bars and pubs crowd around the square, making it an ideal meeting point for locals as well as tourists and a great place to sit down for a morning or evening coffee and enjoy the action.
While it figures in the fabric of modern life, Campo dei Fiori, like almost all places in Rome, has a storied past. This is where the Theater of Pompey was built in the 1st century BC. In fact, the architecture of some of the buildings in the square follows the curvature of the foundations of the old theater and the remains of the theater can be seen in some restaurants and shops.
In the Middle Ages, this area of ​​Rome had been largely abandoned and the ruins of the ancient theater were taken over by nature. When the area was resettled in the late 15th century, it was called Campo dei Fiori, or ‘Field of Flowers’, even though it was quickly paved to make way for luxurious residences like the nearby Palazzo dell Cancelleria , the first Renaissance Palazzo in Rome. , and the Palazzo Farnese , which now houses the French Embassy and is located in the quiet Piazza Farnese. If you want to stay in the area, we recommend the Hotel Residenza in Farnese.
Bypassing Campo dei Fiori is Via del Pellegrino, the “Pilgrim’s Route”, where the first Christian tourists could find food and shelter before traveling to St. Peter’s Basilica.
During the Roman Inquisition, which took place in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, public executions were carried out in Campo dei Fiori. In the center of the square there is a solemn statue of the philosopher Giordano Bruno, which is a reminder of those dark days. The statue of a hooded Bruno stands at the site of the square where he was burned alive in 1600.
