Markets on the move

After previously making the observation about Piazza Navona's calm and unhabited space in the morning, I have found some new and interesting information about the history of the square. It's odd, long, skinny, oval space was once used as a site for an ancient Roman circus. Here, people would gather around to watch atheltic and theatre events. The bizzare shape outlines the circus and horse tracks that took place in the piazza many centuries ago.

In the 15th century, the Piazza was then turned into a city market, which was transferred from the Capitoline Hill.  The same market was then moved to Campo de'Fiori in 1869.  I have not been able to find any information, discussing the reasons for why the market was moved from Piazza Navona to Campo de'Fiori.  Although Campo de'Fiori is a smaller square, maybe the oval shape of Piazza Navona was not suitable for a market, as it became more popular, and the crowds grew larger.

Information obtained from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Navona
http://www.romainteractive.com/pznavona.htm

Taba

I have to admit, I have been slightly disappointed with the shopping in Rome. I was excited to come home with unique and unusual clothes that had a "European" look to them. But, the bright colors and patterns that are often seen in the stores have never been appealing to me.
However, my random walks around Rome have finally paid off. As I was walking through Campo de' Fiori yesterday, I found the kind of store that I had been looking for. Oddly, it is placed along the perimeter of the piazza, where most of the cafes and restaurants are found. The style at the boutique, Taba, is a mix of bohemian and vintage. The unique hand made bags, belts, shoes, sandals and jewelry are beautifully crafted. They have a variety of colorful hair bands, pins and accessories. The ethnic, contemporary music that softly plays in the background gives a great atmosphere to the small, closet boutique. Although the prices are not necessarily cheap, I would recommend anyone to take a look into the store.

Information obtained from:

http://www.tabashop.it/home2.html#

Piazza's and Entertainment

I have chosen three different piazza's to go to, during one walk. I have combined my two themes, which are street entertainers and piazza's so one is able to explore and take away different things from each place on the walk. By starting the walk at Piazza Maria in Trastevere, you can check out the small square that is surrounded by local restaurants, bars and an octagonal fountain that was built in the late 17th century. In the evening, you are almost guaranteed to see a variety of entertainers, including magicians, jugglers and many vendors. This is not one of the three places; I just think it's a bonus, if you start at this fun little piazza.

Depending on the time of day that you visit Campo de' Fiori, you will have many different experiences. If you decide to take a morning walk, the food market that takes over the piazza during the morning and early afternoon will likely amaze you. However, if you happen to stroll along through Campo in the evening, or nighttime, the square is filled with numerous violinists and entertainers who may even put on a show for you will you enjoy a nice dinner outside. Here you will also find the statue of Giordano Bruno, who was burned to a stake in middle of the piazza.

Piazza Navona is a rather lively place, where you can find three beautiful fountains. Bernini designed the one fountain, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Fontano di Nettuno is found at the northern end of Piazza Navona, which was sculpted by Giacomo della Porto, who also first sculpted the Fontano del Moro. However, Bernini ended up remodeling the Fontano del Moro. In addition to the fascinating fountains, the center of the piazza is always full of talented vendors who sell their artwork of portraits and landscapes.

At the final stop of the guided walk, you will find yourself at the Piazza della Rotonda, where the Pantheon is located. The Pantheon is one of the Rome's best-preserved ancient temples, which holds the tomb of Raphael. It is a very busy piazza, which is surrounded by restaurants and cafes. There are always a lot of people but beware of the vendors who will consistently ask you to buy cheap and annoying toys. I hope you enjoy this fun and historic walk! Remember to save at least two or three hours, to be able to see and appreciate everything you may stumble upon.

Guided walk: Piazza's and Street Entertainment

To begin your walk, start at the Santa Maria Church, located in the Santa Maria Piazza in Trastevere. Begin walking on Vic del via Benedetta, that will take you through a the small Piazza San Giovanni della Malva. Continue walking, until you reach the Tiber River, where you will turn left, until you reach the small bridge called Ponte Sisto. Cross the main road, Lungotevere dei Vallati, and go straight on Via die Pettinari. Take a left onto Campo di Ferro road, and follow it until you reach the first stop, Campo de' Fiori. After enjoying your time at the square, head towards Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II, by walking through Piazza della Cancellaria until you come to the main road. Cross the road, and walk straight on Viccolo Leutaria, following the road that will guide you to Piazza Navona. You have successfully made it to the next stop! To finish the walk, cross the main road, Corso Del Rinascimento and get on Via Giustiniani, which will take you straight to Piazza della Rotanda.

Campo vs. Piazza Navona

One thing that I love about Campo de' Fiori is that it is so close to the popular and upbeat square, Piazza Navona. It takes only a couple of minutes, and a walk across the street to get to Piazza Navona from Campo de' Fiori. The piazza's couldn't be more different.

While Campo is usually chaotic and busy because of the popular market that invades the square in the morning, Piazza Navona is completely deserted. Just last week, I took a stroll through the market, which led to my mouth watering due to the delectable fruit selection. Although it was only past 8 o'clock in the morning, the area was already packed, as the stands lined up side by side offering various fresh fruits and vegetables. But, as we continued our walk and approached Piazza Navona, I was astonished by the tranquility that filled the air. There were no vendors in sight, no paintings for sale and no restaurants or shops open. Besides a few locals who passed by with their dogs, the stone region was bare.

At first, I was bothered by the unusual silence. But as I sat on a bench that allowed me to see the entire piazza, my bothersome soon turned to peacefulness. I have gotten so used to this busy city always being crowded, especially when I visit the popular sites and monuments. It was a great feeling to sit and enjoy the true essence of the piazza. Unfortunately, not all areas in Rome will ever clear out, like Piazza Navona does in the morning. If you find yourself overwhelmed in this city, take a stroll through Piazza Navona in the early morning and appreciate the peacefulness.

Campo Changes

Tonight a couple of girls and I decided to go for a walk to enjoy the warm evening breeze. We decided to wander off towards Campo de' Fiori, and Piazza Navona, since we had never visited the areas during the evening. I was pleasantly surprised to see how different Campo was, compared to the morning, mid afternoon, and nighttime.

My experience has confirmed my hypothesis that Campo has many different personalities, and serves for many different purposes through out the day. We arrived around 7:30 in the evening to a rather calm and serene atmosphere. Although there were many people strolling around the piazza, it seemed as though no one was in a rush. Probably the most shocking aspect was that there were no vendors in sight. Many of the restaurants were only half filled, and some of the bars weren't even open at this time. I found it rather relaxing, as I took a minute to take it all in. The sun was setting, and the air was fresh.

It is incredible how one area can change so much in a matter of hours. If you have the time, I would recommend visiting the Piazza at different hours of the day. I can only hope that you appreciate the everchanging square as much as I have.

Directions to Piazza Barberini

Upon your arrival in Rome, at the Centrale Roma Termini (Train station), step outside, facing the Piazza Del Cinquecento, to begin your journey to the Piazza Barberini. Go straight on Vialle Einaudi, until you reach the circle, around the Piazza Della Repubblica, where you will veer to the right. Continue on to the V. Vitt. E. Orlando, where you will reach an intersection, crossing Via XX Settembre. As you look to the right, you will pass the Santa Susanna Church, along with the Santa Maria della Vittoria Church, on the left. After seeing the churches, continue on the same road and you will come to Via Barberini, slightly turning left. Keep going straight, until you come to the Tritone Fountain, successfully making it to your final destination!

The Piazza is home of the Tritone Fountain, which was one of Bernini's magnificent work. The design of the fountain consists of four dolphins, supporting an open clam, where a Triton sits and blows flowing water from his horn. Until the end of the 18th century, the dead bodies of the unknown were placed on display in front of the fountain, so people would be able to identify the bodies. Since the piazza is in the city center of Rome, do not be surprised by the chaotic and busy traffic.

Information obtained from:

http://www.romaviva.com/Via-Veneto/piazza_barberini_eng.htm

Martyr for Science

I previously referred to Giordano Bruno, when I discussed the statue which can be found in the Camp de' Fiori. After researching more on Giordano Bruno, I have come to realize the true meaning of the statue and what it stands for.

Giordano Bruno was an Italian philosopher, priest, cosmologist and occulist. He is best known for his organization of knowledge by using the mneumonic system. He was thoroughly interested in the art of memory and philosophy. Bruno was fascinated with the Copernicus and his heliocentric ideas, referrering to the sun as the center. His innovative ideas and outspoken nature ended up working against him in the end. His ideas of the infinite size of the Universe, ultimately did not go along with Orthodox Christian beliefs, forcing him to flee Naples and Rome, while abandoning the Dominican order. He managed to find peace in France, where he was able to lead a cycle of thirthy lectures on theoloical topics, and became famous for his exceptional memory.

Bruno's strong philosophical beliefs that clashed with the Christians, eventually led The Roman Inquisiton to have Bruno to be sent to Rome, where he was imprisoned for 7 years, during his trial in the Tower of Nona. The long list of charges against Bruno were based on his writings, immoral conduct and his philosophical views that were against the Catholic faith. Holding strong to his beliefs and thoughts, Bruno eventually was persecuted, in Campo de'Fiori, where he was tied to a pole, naked, burning to death.

The dark and gloomy statue stands tall in the middle of Campo de'Fiori, disobediently facing the Vatican. Ettore Ferrari, an artist, dedicated the monument to him as a reminder of the martyr of freedom of speech and science.

Information obtained from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giordano_Bruno

Campo de' Fiori Statue

If you've been to Campo de' Fiori, you've seen the statue. It is not the usual center piece of a piazza, which is a white, beautiful fountain with water flowing from different spouts. It is the dark statue of a man in a large cloak, with his head draped down and hands crossed. Many people sit at the base of the statue during the day to eat their lunch or have a glass of wine, not knowing the actual meaning of the statue. At night time, there are always a large group of people sitting on the ledge socializing. It is the statue of a great philosopher named Giordano Bruno. The exact spot where the statue stands high and tall is where Bruno was burnt alive, because of his declaration that the universe had no center. The statue is a reminder to all, of the executions that took place in the piazza.

a day at the market...

Campo de'Fiori is best known for the charming market that has been held in the piazza for many centuries. The market has a variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers and even fish to chose from. You can be sure to find the market everyday of the week, except for Sundays. The main attraction, that draws in the tourists is the huge open baskets that hold fresh broccoli, spinach, chopped vegetables and prepared salads. Despite the raindrops, I had the wonderful opportunity to check out this popular market for the first time, before heading off to school yesterday. I was amazed and overwhelmed with all the market had to offer. It is a completely different piazza, compared to the nightlife. The vibrant colors of the fruits and vegetables made my mouth water. I couldn't resist the bright red strawberries that were neatly lined in the front row of the fruits. For 1.50 euros I walked away with a delicious batch of sweet strawberries! It was an excellent purchase...and I plan on returning for more fruits and vegetables. In addition to the market, the square is surrounded by bread shops and cafes. If you have the time to visit this market during the early morning, I would definitely recommend it.

the ship that may just get you drunk

After eating a meal at one of the small restaurants located in the Campo De' Fiori we noticed a bar that looked popular and crowded. Although I didn't walk away when I noticed the name "Drunken Ship" I knew I was in for a strange and interesting experience. As we walked in to the dark and congested bar, it was hard not to notice the immense amount of American girls, compared to the large amount of Italian men. As I stood in the long line to use the unisex bathroom, I made friends with a girl who probably doesn't remember talking to me. It occurred to me that I had not seen one Italian lady at the bar and I began to question what we were doing. I sat down at a table to observe the men and their actions. I heard a group of Italians scream to every girl that walked past them "bella" which means beautiful in Italian. I find it disappointing that many Italian men have the impression that all American girls are like the majority of the girls that I saw at the Drunken Ship. It was an experience that I do not regret, and I actually had a great time observing the interactions of the different crowds and expressions the men would make to each other. When I got home I "googled" drunken ship, only to read that it is an American owned bar with an international clientelle. That would probably explain the beer pong that is conveniently located in the back corner of the bar. I probably should've guessed it by the name, but it was something I had to encounter personally. However, if you are looking for an American bar that is located in the Campo De'Fiori...this may just be the place for you.

Campo De' Fiori

We have only been in Rome for five full days, but I can already list a significant number of beautiful and historical places that I thought I would only see in my dreams. Every day I am amazed more and more by the achitecture and sculptors that are strategically designed and placed for significant reasons throughout Rome. Two nights ago, 20 of us decided to take on the task to have dinner all together in the Campo De' Fiori. Although I had heard many things about this place, I wasn't sure what to expect. With only about a 15 minute walk from Trestavere, we turned the corner and I felt like we were in a hidden town. I would have never found the Camp De'Fiori by just taking a walk. It is close to the main roads, but in a way, secretely hidden in it's own rectangular piazza. I could sit in one area for hours and hours on end watching people interact with each other and watching how a certain area varies through out the day. As I stepped foot into the Campo De' Fiori, I immediately knew that it was the perfect place for me to do this! I have only been there during the night, which is usually a hot spot for a younger, wilder crowd. I am interested to see the area during the morning, day, and evening before the nightlife. I have decided to take the time tomorrow to wander off to the piazza and explore on my own. I will be sure to update frequently on the things I observe at the Campo De'Fiori, along with some history of the piazza.