Named the “field of flowers,” Campo de’ Fiori was once a meadow but is now one of Rome’s liveliest squares. A daily market (Monday-Saturday) sells flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables. At night, the surrounding bars and restaurants buzz with locals and visitors. The square also has a dark past - it was a site for public executions, including the burning of philosopher Giordano Bruno in 1600. His statue, erected in 1889, faces the Vatican in silent defiance. Campo de’ Fiori is unique as the only central Roman piazza without a church.
Visit in the morning if you want the market. Come back after dark if you want to understand why the square is still one of Rome’s social crossroads.