Campo de’ Fiori: executions, flowers and riots
History of Campo de’ Fiori
Campo dei Fiori means literally “field of flowers” and is the central point of one of Rome’s most beautiful areas, the quarter between the river Tiber and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
In the past Campo dei Fiori really was no more than a field. The area stretching from the Tiber to the Theatre of Pompey (where Largo di Torre Argentina is nowadays) was not considered worth constructing anything on, since the river regularly flooded everything.
In 1456 Campo de’ Fiori was paved as part of an improvement to the entire Parione quarter. After that had happened important buildings were constructed, like the Palazzo Orsini on the square itself and the Palazzo della Cancelleria.
The area was an area for craftsmen, as can be seen from the names of the streets surrounding Campo de’ Fiori: Via dei Chiavari (keymakers), Via di Capellari (hatmakers) en Via dei Giubbonari (tailors), to name but a few.
Executions (usually by hanging) used to take place on Campo de’ Fiori. The philosopher Giordano Bruno was burnt at the stake by the Inquisition because of his heretic ideas. In 1887 a statue commemorating this was placed right in the middle of the square. It defiantly faces the Vatican.
Campo de’ Fiori now
In 1958 the square was enlarged by tearing down a number of houses. The daily flower market dates from 1869. The old fountain La Terrina where cattle used to drink is now used to keep the flowers fresh.
Nowadays Campo de’ Fiori has become famous for its raucous nightlife – most of the organized pub crawls have the square as its last stop, and sometimes huge battles take place between drunk tourists and the police.
Directions from the Chaplin B&B
From the hostel Chaplin Bed and Breakfast Rome you take either bus 64 or the faster 40E and get off at Piazza San Pantaleo. Any side street on your left will lead you to Campo de’ Fiori.