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Home ItalyCentral ItalyLazioRome Sweet HomeAnother Rome || City Centre My favorite markets in Rome
Another Rome || City CentreAnother Rome || Della VittoriaAnother Rome || MontesacroAnother Rome || San BasilioAnother Rome || Trionfale

My favorite markets in Rome

Markets in Rome

My weekends are consecrated to market shopping. From food to flea markets, I re-emerge from the cacophony of new deals only on Sunday evening.

I could never buy my food in the cool and perfect indifference of a supermarket, which is why I’m always keen to explore a different farmers’ market in town. I like it when the nose-tingling aroma of spices mixes with the smell of freshly slaughtered meat, baked goods and unique cheeses. I breath in all those aromas while walking in the dense, colourful throng, with my huge ‘market bag’ swinging into people’s legs and getting fuller by the minute.

On Sunday, I like to browse antiques and flea markets, even if –truth be told- I rarely bring anything back home. I just love the bustling atmosphere of shopkeepers screaming out offers at the top of their voices, the hustle and bustle, and the colours of stands overflowing with merchandise.

Markets in Rome
Portaportese Flea Market
Table Of Contents
  1. The Flower Market
  2. Markets in Rome > Antiques Market > Ponte Milvio
  3. Markets in Rome > Food Market > Mercato di Testaccio
  4. Markets in Rome > Antiques Market > “Passato e Presente”
  5. Markets in Rome > Food Market > Mercato Trionfale
  6. Markets in Rome > Antiques Market > Mercatino Conca d’Oro
  7. Markets in Rome > Fashion Market > Mercato Monti

The Flower Market

The sweet smell of flowers pervades the huge empty space on the upper floor of Rome’s flower market. Given the season, there is an overabundance of poinsettias and cyclamens, and all these bright redish shades somehow compensate the cold atmosphere.

Markets in Rome

Despite the fact that many stalls are shut down or at least long-forgotten, Rome’s flower market is still very poetic: its colourful flower-pots sitting on the shelves, the pristine smell of the soil, the gorgeous blooms, the old ladies looking for something to decorate their (already overladen) tables and all those fragrant scents that are worth immersing yourself in.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

This is where florists get their flowers, while the general public can go only on Tuesday morning to find plants at the first floor and, at the second floor, flowers of all colours and shapes for a nice price.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

Markets in Rome > Antiques Market > Ponte Milvio

Stretching along the river quay, this antique market is the perfect place to enjoy a Sunday stroll under chestnut and carob trees.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

Besides the overabundance of disputable paintings, here you can hunt down retro antiques (including silver, china and glassware), shabby chic furniture and everything you don’t need (but want anyway).

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

The clothes section is a bit disappointing, but still worth a browse.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

Markets in Rome > Food Market > Mercato di Testaccio

Once home to Rome’s general markets and main slaughterhouse, Testaccio neighbourhood was the pivotal point of Rome’s foodie scene until the end of the last century.

testaccio Rome

The local food market was held in the main square until a few years ago, when it was moved to a modern space with beautiful architectural elements recalling waves.

testaccio street food tour
testaccio street food tour

The Testaccio food market houses the original produce stalls that sold their fresh products outdoors, but also several street food kiosks. My favourite is ‘Mordi e vai’, which serves tasty sandwiches stuffed with traditional Roman recipes, and ‘Romeo’, which is run by the Michelin starred chef Cristina Bowerman.

testaccio street food tour
testaccio street food tour

Another stand that I like a lot is called ‘Il baratto’: here you can bring clothes, shoes and costume jewellery that you don’t wear anymore and swap them with others of the same value. In the midst of the market, there is also an archaeological gem: the ruins of an ancient Roman market.

Markets in Rome > Antiques Market > “Passato e Presente”

Near the large-scale murals of SANBA (the street art project in San Basilio) there is this flea market selling all kinds of knick-knacks and antiques. I like it because here you can still find authentic objects and some great deals, unlike the flea markets in the city centre, which are expensive and tourist-targeted and whose wares look fake.

Markets in Rome

By contrast, at San Basilio’s antique market, I’ve always found quirky trinkets and novelties and, most of all, a very genuine atmosphere. The market is not very big, there might be 20 stalls, but it is well worth a visit!

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

My favourite stalls are those selling maps and globes (to feed my wanderlust!), old toys (to relive my youth), postcards and pictures of a Rome from another time (as I’m very curious about how areas have changed over the decades), vintage clothing (to satisfy my girlish side) and second-hand books (because reading is dreaming with open eyes!)

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

Markets in Rome > Food Market > Mercato Trionfale

The New Trionfale Market is a covered market that opened in 2009 to replace the old Via Andrea Doria market on the same street.

Prati food tour rome

It is located inside a modern building and it hosts more than 100 stalls selling vegetables, cheese, meat, spices, baked products, fish and more. The atmosphere is truly authentic: sellers yelling their best prices, a strong smell of spices, fish and cheeses dominating the area and bakeries emanating inviting smells through the stalls.

Prati food tour rome
Prati food tour rome

Unlike the Mercato Testaccio, which underwent a true restyling, this market kept its old features, including some old signs. It just moved indoors, inside a glass-and-concrete modern building whose stairs have been recently decorated with a double portrait of the actress Anna Magnani by the street artist Diavù.

Markets in Rome

Markets in Rome > Antiques Market > Mercatino Conca d’Oro

Perhaps the best flea market in Rome, it began more than 10 years ago and has grown to 150 stalls.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

Here you can find any kind of product –from food to collectables and from second hand books to art- but, according to my collector friends, its real niche is music, and so vinyl, CDs and co.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome

As for me, I like its quirkiest stands and the big amount of vintage furnishings but, most of all, I like its bustling atmosphere and the fact that this place is less for hipsters and more for people looking to scope out rare finds.

Markets in Rome
Markets in Rome
conca doro Markets in Rome

After shopping, don’t miss a walk along the Aniene river through the almost unspoilt Parco delle Valli, one of the wildest parks in Rome.

Markets in Rome > Fashion Market > Mercato Monti

This is the place to mingle with the long-bearded, tattoo covered fauna of Rome’s hipsterland. A tireless DJ will mix soft, Sunday-mood tunes to background your browsing of creations from the hippest artists, stylists and designers in the city, among the vintage clothing and hand-made jewellery.

Markets in Rome

This is a flea market 2.0, or an “Urban Market” as they call themselves, because it isn’t the average flea market crowded with junk, but more of an incubator for style innovation, a mix of ateliers of up-and-coming designers selling everything from bags to lamps under the evergreen flagship of “Made in Italy”.

Markets in Rome

The vintage feel and the uniqueness of the products on display make this indoor market a sophisticated and London-ish corner of Rome. Prices are crazy high, but the market is worth a visit, if only to drink in its hip atmosphere.

Markets in Rome

Find these markets and many more cool spots in my Rome Google Map

Roma travel map street art
Trust me, it’s way easier if you download my Google map

You can hover over these (or any image) to quickly pin it!

markets in rome
markets in rome

Antiques MarketsFlea MarketsFlower MarketsFood MarketsHipstermapMontiTestaccio
Giulia Blocal

I'm a writer who is specialised in street art and graffiti. Since 2011 I have run this independent street art blog, which has been the media partner of important street art festivals around Europe. I create content for creative enterprises and museums, and my writing was published in street art catalogues and art publications.

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About Me

About Me

Hello, my name is Giulia. I'm a writer who is specialised in street art and graffiti. Since 2011 I have run this independent street art blog, which has been the media partner of important street art festivals around Europe. I create content for creative enterprises and museums, and my writing was published in street art catalogues and art publications.

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BLOCAL blog
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