Campo de' Fiori
Rome's 'field of flowers' is perhaps the most important piazza that was never planned and formalised.
In ancient time this area of Rome was very much under-developed given its close proximity to the flood-prone river Tiber. During the middle ages it was given the name of ‘field of flowers’ and in 1456, under Pope Callixtus III, Campi de’ Fiori was paved as part of a greater project to improve the area.
Business thrived in the area. Streets were named after specific trades: Via dei Balestrari (crossbow-makers), Via dei Cappellari (hat-makers), Via dei Chiavari (key-makers) and Via dei Giubbonari (tailors). Today people living in the area go to buy their fruit and vegetables at the daily market.
Campo de’ Fiori is also famous for darker reasons. Capital punishments used to be held in the Piazza. Giordano Bruno, a local philosopher, was burnt alive at the stake by the Roman Inquisition because his ideas were thought to be dangerous by the church.
Today Campo de’ Fiori, apart from the morning market, is a place where people hang out to talk about politics and football. There is an ancient fountain called “La Terrina” that has an apt inscription: Do well and let them talk.
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