Campo de' Fiori
Rome
In the heart of Rome, Campo de' Fiori is a lively square like no other. By day it hosts one of the oldest markets in the city, with stalls of fruit, vegetables and flowers; by night it becomes a meeting point of Roman nightlife. At its centre stands the dark statue of Giordano Bruno, a symbol of freedom of thought.
The story of the square
The square as we know it took shape in the 15th century, when the area was paved and began to fill with inns and workshops. Being so close to Via dei Giubbonari and the Tiber soon made it a crossroads of merchants, pilgrims and craftsmen.
The statue of Giordano Bruno
In the centre of the square rises the bronze monument to Giordano Bruno, the philosopher and friar condemned for heresy and burned at the stake right here on 17 February 1600. The statue, by the sculptor Ettore Ferrari, was unveiled after an international subscription, at the height of the anticlerical climate that followed Italian unification. Bruno is shown hooded, his gaze turned towards the Vatican, as a symbol of free thought.
The market and daily life
Every morning, Monday to Saturday, the square fills with its open-air market, active for centuries. Colourful stalls offer fresh produce, spices, flowers and local specialities. It is one of the few historic markets still surviving in the centre of Rome. As the sun goes down, the tables of bars and restaurants take over and Campo de' Fiori becomes one of the hubs of Roman nightlife.
Visiting Campo de' Fiori
The square is a few steps from Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, in the Parione district. It is worth visiting in the morning for the market and coming back at sunset to soak up the atmosphere. All around wind picturesque lanes and Renaissance palaces, including the nearby Palazzo della Cancelleria. An unmissable stop for anyone following the treasure map through the heart of the Eternal City.
