Located right in the heart of Rome, Campo De’ Fiori Square is one of the city’s most beloved attractions. Boasting an effervescent and romantic character, it attracts locals and tourists alike with its bustling morning markets, daytime sightseeing and evening entertainment. Book an accommodation in Campo de Fiori and make your Roman holiday a truly authentic experience.

Whilst Rome is renowned for being home to some of our world’s most ancient sites, this particular plaza is actually one of the city’s ‘newest’ additions. This area was only developed in the mid 1400s when an order was made, under the guidance of Pope Callistus III, to pave the flowery meadow area between the Theatre of Pompeii and the River Tiber. The ensuing suburb, Campo de’ Fiori (meaning field of flowers in Italian) was born, and soon became one of the city’s most thriving merchant areas. Horse sellers and local produce growers convened to sell and trade goods and, six centuries later, it’s wonderful to see that not much has changed.

Campo dei Fiori quickly became one of Rome’s most prosperous place, and an important route to the Vatican. Some of the city’s most prominent historical figures were constant fixtures and locals, eager to cash in on the square’s popularity, built workshops, stalls and pensioni to house the hordes of visiting merchants and customers.

The Campo de’ Fiori Square also has a brutal side to its history, as is evident by the prevailing statue of philosopher Giordano Bruno, who was burned at the stake in 1600 for daring to suggest that our universe was infinite. The statue to honour him was built over two hundred years later and became the symbol of freedom in a newly unified Italy.

Today, the plaza has not lost any of its ancient charms and uses (minus the burnings of course). The morning open air produce markets is still thriving after 150 years, and the statue of a disgruntled Bruno is still considered a symbol of freedom by the city’s youth, who convene here on a nightly basis to socialize and debate the country’s current woes. It is still regarded as a symbol of free speech and is one of the area’s most popular meeting points for locals and tourists alike.

To best appreciate the turbulent past and effervescent present of Campo de’ Fiori, we suggest you head to the main square and snag a generous slice of pizza from what is considered Rome’s best bakery, the Forno Campo dei Fiori. Just join the queue outside and you’ll know what we mean. Next, do what the locals do and take a seat on one of the steps and enjoy your meal, and the view, in contended bliss. If you prefer a rather more comfortable dining experience, then grab a table at the nearby “Montserrato” restaurant for an exceptional plate of bombolitti all’ astice.