Campo de’ Fiori

Campo de' Fiori means “Field of Flowers”, a name that goes back to the Middle Ages, when this area was still an open meadow on the edge of the busy city. The square took on a more formal shape in the 1400s. It was paved in 1456 under Pope Callixtus III, and over time it became a place for trade, gossip, and public life, surrounded by palaces and narrow streets that still feel very Roman. Campo de' Fiori also has a darker history. This was a site of public punishments and executions, and it is remembered most for the death of the philosopher Giordano Bruno, burned here in 1600 after a long trial for heresy. The hooded bronze figure in the center of the square honors him. It was created by sculptor Ettore Ferrari and erected in 1889, and it remains a strong symbol in modern Rome. During the day, the mood is completely different. The square hosts one of Rome’s best-known open-air markets, with stalls selling fruit, vegetables, flowers, and everyday produce, usually from Monday to Saturday in the morning and early afternoon. Later, when the stalls pack up, cafés and bars take over and the square becomes a lively meeting point.