Rome, Italy's Top Food Markets

Rome's food markets are world famous. Full of color and variety, Rome's food markets are a great place to find out what fruits, vegetables, and herbs are in season as well as get a fantastic glimpse of everyday Roman life. Following are Rome's top food markets and what to find in them.

Campo dei Fiori

By far the most famous outdoor food market in Rome, the market at Campo dei Fiori in central Rome operates Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. In a stunning setting, surrounded by medieval buildings and outdoor cafés, the Campo dei Fiori has the best produce from around Italy. There are also fishmonger stands and flower stalls.

Piazza Vittorio Market

Reflecting the ever-shifting face of Rome, the Mercato Piazza Vittorio is popular with Rome's large immigrant population as well as locals in search of exotic ingredients. Located near Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the top churches in Rome, the Piazza Vittorio Market, open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, sells a dizzying variety of foreign fruits and vegetables, fragrant spices, and international packaged goods. There are plenty of locally grown fruits and vegetables here, too. The stands of the Mercato Piazza Vittorio once lined the huge square of the same name, but they now operate out of a former dairy factory next to the square.

Trionfale Market

Residents of Prati, a neighborhood near the Vatican City, shop at the Trionfale Market, which is one of the largest food markets in Italy. Housed in a renovated building that stretches between Via Andrea Doria and Via Candia, the Mercato Trionfale is loaded with 270+ vendors selling everything from fresh produce to deli sandwiches, meats, cheeses, loaves of bread, dry goods, and kitchenware. There are also stalls for clothing and perfume. It is open Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Testaccio Covered Market

Rome's Testaccio neighborhood has a good covered market (formerly in Piazza Testaccio, there's now a permanent market space near the river) that's been around for many years. This is a working-class market frequented by residents of the neighborhood and you won't see many tourists here. The market has a good selection of fresh vegetables, meats, and other edibles with more than 100 shops. Testaccio Covered Market is open Mondays through Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.