A morning at Campo dei Fiori Market in Rome

Rome’s oldest market is held on Campo dei Fiori.Here you will find the best fish in the city, fresh vegetables and attractively-piled fruit, spice, as well as kitchen utensils, tablecloths and toys.

Anytime we are in Rome we like to take a tour to this market. There are other market I like, the differences are in the variety, and the presentation, The fruits and vegetables, spices… Once we found 6 kinds of tomatoes, 5 varieties of strawberries, 4 different zucchinis, different greens and artichokes  In other markets you find good fruit and vegetables, but it is dumped into boxes and bins. Here, long years of competition  have made for special displays: antique baskets  hold carefully arranged fruits, vegetables pyramids of color.

There are big bags of spices op and adding to the delicious riot of smells. One of Rome’s best bread bakeries — many say the best of all — is at one corner of the square. Follow your nose to “il Forno”.

We particularly like to stop and watch the little old man that uses a variety of amazing utensils to slice, spiral, dice, and curlicue vegetables  Nobody else can really use those things, but he’s an expert and is great fun to watch.

There is enough space for sidewalk cafes and restaurants around the fringes.

The Piazza has, of course, a whole different life at night. It’s cleansed of market  by late afternoon and at night the restaurants and cafes are crowded .