Enjoy seasonal ingredients at this energetic open-air market
Campo de' Fiori Market
Campo dei Fiori Square is located on the left bank of the Tiber River that runs through Rome. This place was a flower-filled field until around 1400, so it was named "Campo (Field of Flowers) (Fiori)" Square.
Every morning, the most lively morning market in Rome is held in Campo de' Fiori Square, which has long been a staple of Roman food. From vegetables, fruits, cheese, olive oil, colorful pasta, and spices to kitchen utensils, clothes, and leather goods, there are rows of stalls selling all sorts of goods. It's a lively market, with sellers and buyers chatting to each other in a friendly manner.
Looking at the colorful, fresh vegetables and fruits lined up at the stalls, you can feel the richness of Italian food. Every store has its products displayed so beautifully that it would be a shame to clear them all away in the afternoon, almost artistically.
Campo de' Fiori Market | ||
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Closed Day | : | Sundays and holidays |
business hours | : | 7:00-14:00 (varies by store) |
address | : | Campo d'Eri |
Find one-of-a-kind tableware at a backstreet pottery studio
PICTA
Around Campo de' Fiori Square, there are many alleys with unique names, such as "Bag Shop Street" and "Coat Shop Street." These are remnants of the time when this area was bustling with artisan workshops. Unfortunately, only a handful of workshops remain today, but if you walk down the alley of Hatter Street, you will come across "PICTA," a small workshop and shop run by ceramicist Marina Graziani.
Marina has been working in her small workshop for 20 years, and continues to create her pieces using traditional Italian techniques. In the back of the shop, she passionately paints each design with a brush and fires them in the kiln.
Marina's work is characterized by the depiction of everyday objects such as plates and cups that we use every day, as well as houses, windows, laundry, trees, and birds. The patterns are drawn simply and modernly with delicate brush strokes. Each piece is an original, one-of-a-kind piece.
Closed Day | : | Sunday, Monday |
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business hours | : | 10:00~19:30 |
Official website | : | https://www.pictaporcellane.com/ |
address | : | Via dei Cappellai, 11 |
Be enveloped in elegant, natural scents at this exclusive Rome perfume boutique
FLUMEN profumi
In recent years, what are called "niche fragrances" have been gaining attention around the world, especially in Europe and the United States. Many unique brands have been created that distinguish themselves from mass-produced products for the masses and place emphasis on the personal taste of the perfumer.
Italy, the birthplace of modern perfume, is also one of the leading countries in niche fragrances. FLUMEN, a fragrance boutique located in a quiet area overlooking the Spanish Steps near Via Condotti, where high-end boutiques line the streets of Rome, also offers special scents.
The word "elegant" perfectly describes this perfume, making you feel as if you are being enveloped in it. This high-quality fragrance is created from natural ingredients, including more than twice the amount of essential oils as usual, and alcohol extracted from beets.
We recommend the perfume called "MERAVILIOSO ISTANTE (Wonderful Moment)." It has a beautiful harmony of the natural, gorgeous scent of roses, gentle sandalwood, and sweet ylang-ylang. There are also other unique scents blended based on a concept, such as "DAMA (Lady)" for women and "UTOPIA (Utopia)" for men, so be sure to find one that suits you. The fact that it is only sold in Rome makes it the perfect memento of your trip.
FLUMEN profumi | ||
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Closed Day | : | none |
business hours | : | 11:00~14:00、15:30~19:30 |
web | : | https://www.flumenprofumi.com/ |
address | : | Via Fontanella di Borghese, 41 |
Enjoy an espresso at a long-established cafe visited by Princess Diana
Antico Caffè Greco
Cafes are an essential part of Italian life. Locals visit them many times a day, not just to drink coffee, but as a place to relax and chat. There are cafés where you can sit and relax, as well as bars where you can casually drink standing at the counter.
If you want to enjoy authentic coffee in Rome, we recommend Antico Caffè Greco, located right next to the Spanish Steps. This long-established coffee shop was founded in 1760 and has been visited by many famous people, including Princess Diana and President Kennedy.
A small cup of rich espresso coffee with just a little bit of sugar. The Italian way is to add a lot of sugar to it and enjoy the contrast of bitterness and sweetness. At this shop, the espresso comes with a single chocolate-coated coffee bean. It's a small thing, but it's exceptionally delicious. You can also buy it as a souvenir.
In Italy, it is customary to enjoy an aperitif before dinner. Recently, "aperitivo" (aperitivo) and "cena" (dinner) have become popular. An increasing number of cafes offer a drink and a simple meal set, such as a buffet, for the reasonable price of around 10 euros, only before dinner.
At Antico Caffe Greco, when you order wine or a cocktail, a light meal such as focaccia pizza and sandwiches is served with it. The portions are quite large, so for small eaters, this alone may be enough for dinner.
Antico Caffè Greco | ||
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Closed Day | : | none |
business hours | : | 9:00~21:00 |
web | : | http://www.anticocaffegreco.eu/ |
address | : | Via Condotti, 86 |
A new attraction! Enjoy an aperitif on the rooftop terrace with a panoramic view of Rome
MadeITerraneo
At the department store "Rinascente" near the Trevi Fountain, you can enjoy authentic aperitivo cocktails at the bar of the Mediterranean restaurant "MadeITerraneo" on the upper floors. Rinascente is a long-established department store chain, but this store just opened in the fall of 2017. It's a hot spot right now.
Blending in with the fashionable Romans and gazing at the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica from the open-air terrace, you'll truly feel like you're in Rome.
At Mediterraneo, where a young chef who was awarded a Michelin star shows off his skills, we recommend not only the aperitivo but also the food. You can enjoy a taste that is hard to find in Japan, mixing Italian cuisine with the flavors of Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Greece, and Morocco.
As an aside, you can see an ancient Roman aqueduct in the basement of Rinascente. Aqueducts were built in various places during the ancient Roman Empire to carry water from nearby mountains to the city of Rome. Amazingly, a part of one was newly discovered during the construction of the Rinascente building. Water still flows through the 2,000-year-old aqueduct, leading to the Trevi Fountain. This is a new attraction that mixes ancient and modern, unique to Rome, and is a must-see.
MadeITerraneo | ||
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Closed Day | : | none |
business hours | : | 10:00~23:00 |
web | : | http://www.madeiterraneo.com |
address | : | Via del Tritone, 61 |
Rome is a city full of sights, including ancient Roman ruins, beautiful churches, and art museums. It's fun to shop for nice Italian-made shoes, bags, and miscellaneous goods, even if they're not brand-name products, and you'll want to try pizza, pasta, street food, wine, and cheese. No matter how many times you visit, there are always new discoveries to be made in Rome, and there are many other deep charms that we couldn't cover in this article. Be sure to walk around with a map in hand and enjoy your Roman Holiday.
Naoko Suzuki
A web writer who has lived in Rome since 2001. She writes mainly about travel information for Rome, Italian cuisine, and the Italian lifestyle. She is well known for writing accurate articles based on primary sources in Italian.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.