Flea Markets in Rome and more
An old saying claims that when visiting a village or a city, a traveller shouldn’t miss two places: the main church and the cemetery. Where these two places can provide historical information about the place, they can’t say much about the social life. I’ll add, among others the main square, at least one popular bar and one or two flea markets.
Even if you don’t mean to buy anything, hanging around at a flea market can be very entertaining. Just showing interest 
in an object on sale is enough to become part of it and start a conversation with the seller and other buyers. The chat can be very instructive and give you the possibility to learn much more about the place you’re visiting than any guide. Obviously of you are not only interested in the social part of a flea market or second hand clothes, but also in purchasing antiques, this is the right place to look for good deals.
Rome is probably one of the best places to hang around flea markets. The most famous and one of the oldest flea markets is no doubt Porta Portese (every Sunday) Almost everything is displayed here: From bikes to shoes, old records. If you are lucky enough to have been invited to one of the apartments in Rome for a Sunday lunch, here you can also buy them a flower (an alternative to pastries). If the invitation was for the dinner, then you should better bring a bottle of wine.
One of the most curious Rome flea markets is definitely the “Mercatino Giapponese (Japanese Flea Market) vs Vintage Market” in Via Casilina Vecchia 42 at Circolo degli Artisti every 3rd Sunday of the month , specialized in vintage clothes and objects, books, comics, manga and Japanese magazines. In the Monteverde neighbourhood the people who set up the Scacciapensieri flea market offer also an online selling service and shipping.
Let’ s mention also 2 must see markets in Rome, even if they don’t sell second hand stuff.. In Campo de’ Fiori (a square you can’t miss if strolling around Rome’s centre). It’s open every morning except Sundays and it is the most famous food and flower market here. Whether you are interested in ancient history or not, you should know that Trajan’s market was probably the oldest ancestor of nowadays malls. Before a rest in Rome apartments you can visit its ruins in Via dei Fori Imperiali, across from the Colliseum.
With a broad range of interests that go from history to quite recently botanical gardens Neva would prefer to spend her days in the trendiest cafes reading and writing with pencil and paper, she blogs for living, takes pictures when inspired and travels whenever she can.
