Open air market suggestions

There are different kinds of markets. In Campo de' Fiori there are still produce vendors but also sellers of "stuff." Some of the stuff is OK. i.e., inexpensive household items, but a lot of it is tourist junk.

Then there is Mercato Trionfale in Prati, an enormous indoor produce market with fish mongers and butchers and cheese shops as well. They also have some purveyors of household items, spices, and so on. Less tourist junk.

You will also find street vendors, aka bancarelle and there is a huge one in Prati on Via Ottaviano. Here you will find cheap clothing, scarves, shoes, etc. Italians shops these little kiosks/stands a lot for bargain items. There are other bancarelle scattered around Roman neighborhoods.

Also the mercato at Porta Portese. Sort of a flea market. Very famous. The most famous in fact. Google it and see images and videos.

My two cents about souvenirs: We bought zero souvenirs. Instead, after we got home, I selected special photos of our travel and had them made onto 16 x 20" canvas prints. Each area that we visited is represented, and those hang in the living room. I also had photos of food that we had enjoyed, and had those made into 10x10 canvas to hang in the kitchen. It's a great way to have daily reminders of our wonderful trip!

Thank you for your recommendations. Wow trip photos in frames; I'm no photographer and never would've thought of that, but what a great idea. This will be a good activity to do as a family :)

If you are looking for souvenir/gifts for 'foodie' friends, they would probably appreciate receiving a small packet of pasta, a jar of pesto or a small bottle of olive oil or other such products from a specialty food store or local supermarket. Just remember to check that each liquid item is 100 ml or less in size to avoid having it confiscated at airport security. Small soaps also make nice gifts/souvenirs.

FYI - Canvas prints do not require frames.

Another good idea on the gifts. I do have some 'foodie' friends I will look into brining them back some authentic local foods thank you for your suggestion.

I will look into brining them back some authentic local foods

Just be cautious to purchase food products which are allowed to be imported into your home country. :O)

I will say, many local foods are available internationally these days. I'm not really a souvenir person (I want the items I buy to be useful), but one thing that I found that I (and most people, I think) can use are kitchen towels. Every souvenir place seems to have them, and they often have local designs and colors.

I usually get some sort of scarf for myself (I'm a female). They are also available all over, can be a huge price range, and are easy to pack.

You will see souvenirs for sale all over, not only in open air markets. Every place you visit will have stands outside with every sort of souvenir object that you could imagine.