Shopping in Rome
Campo de Fiori
Location: Piazza di Campo de Fiori, Rome.
Rome's oldest market is held on Campo Dei Fiori (Flora's Courtyard, not 'flower market').
Here you will find the best fish in the city, fresh vegetables and attractively-piled fruit, spice, as well as kitchen utensils, tablecloths and toys.
Porta Portese market
Location: Via Portuense and Via Ippolito Nievo
Open: The only one opened on Sundays, 6.30am-2pm
This is the main flea market in Rome held at the back of Trastevere quarter. Here you’ll find a bit of everything (including the occasional stolen item), though you won't find a real bargain.
They also have terracotta copies of antique decoration and the occasional oil lamp.
Of course, you should haggle, if only for the pleasure.
Mercantino dei Partigiani
Location: Piazza dei Partigiani, Rome
Open: 1st Sunday of the month, except August
This small flea market is held in the basement of a garage and sells furniture and objects from 1940s and 1950s. Sometimes you even see middle class housewives from smart districts selling family items. The prices are really low, a style Italians refer to as modernariato.
Underground
Location: Via Crispi, 96, Rome
Open: 2nd Saturday and Sunday of the month.
This is a relatively new flea market that is held in a huge 4-floor garage between Piazza del Popolo and Via Veneto.
There's a bit of everything here, including a certain Mario Ambrosini, a screenwriter who worked with Fellini, who sells the miniature gifts you find in Kinder chocolate eggs to collectors and members of the Kindermania club. Prices vary and are often on the high side.
Marmistica Bonucceli
Via del Coronari, 200, Rome
This clever craftman maked low tables in various size, using leftovers of ancient marble, and turns various architectural fragments into shelves and picture frames. Altgether a refined and typically Roman place, which can also deliver the antiques from the shop abroad.
Mario Prili
Via del Banchi Nuovi, 47, Rome
In 1966, Sor Mario, the owner of this antique shop, received a special award for having found a Botticelli stolen in 1820 from a Roman art collector. This sailman has a real flair for buying up really fine goods from aristocratic families fallen on hard times that he quickly sells on at good prices.
Carlo Virgilio
Via del Lupa, 10, Rome
This art gallery sells 19th and 20th century drawings at very reasonable prices. They have a good selection of views of Rome and its surroundings from bygone eras, which can make charming and original souvenirs. This antique shop is well-known to collectors and curators.
Seconda Mano
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 85, Rome
The smartest of the secondhand clothes shops. A sewing machine in the corner tells you that clothes here are often altered, probably essential to give them a more contemporary look.
Seconda Mano (2nd)
Address:Via della Lungara, 14, Rome
Despite having the same name, this shop has a totally different atmosphere. It sells all shorts, genuine and false Lacostes, stripy shirts, polo shirts with no label, collarless shirts, and more.
Sempre Verde
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 26, Rome
The window is cracked, the door broken and dummies have their heads covered in sheets of newspaper. But it's all part of the intended effect in this 'shabby-chic' shop.
Abiti Usati
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 35, Rome
This is the queen of all the secondhand clothes shops. Among the mountains of clothes from all eras and who knows where, you might find, if you've time, the perfect 1960s mini-skirt, but be prepared to rummage.
Mado
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 89A, Rome
This is the place to come to find out about fashion in the 1930s.With a cozy bygone decor, this shop sells the clothes and accessories that today's Italian grandmothers might have worn.