THE "touristification" of the CAMPO DE FIORI market

I am a fan of markets, if I am in a town, and there is a market, either a daily one, or weekly; street, or dedicated structure; Food or Flea, I am there.

I did not find anything surprising in the article, been to the market a half dozen trips over 20 years, I guess I always thought it was more for the tourists than the locals.

I have observed though that the trend toward a market as tourism, rather than local shopping, has happened all over Europe. The very presence of tourists means more places are going to sell to those customers, and that is usually not fish, fresh meat, or produce, except ready-to-eat and packaged items.

Another less publicized reason is just changes in culture. Most daily shoppers at markets tend to be pensioners. The typical family has both parents working during market hours, and a modern supermarket is available to get everything in one stop on the way home (and when markets are closed).

In my visits to markets, I am often disappointed, going into a large market hall, and finding maybe a dozen active stalls. Conversely, yeah there are insanely busy markets, but those are the ones that cater to tourists, or have become "gastro-markets" with food stalls.

Still, there are some gems out there, Spain has a number, a few in Italy, Market days in Belgium and the Netherlands, the odd one in Germany, but all the successful ones have had to adapt.

Its just not the same any more. Ahhh the good old days: https://colosseumrometickets.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Campo-de-Fiori-1880.jpg

After over 20 visits to the market, to Rome, to many places in Italy, I find I'm welcomed as a returning 'guest' by many. I love walking throuogh Campo de Fiori but I seldom buy anything - so much is 'touristy' things I just don't need. But there is one delightful lady who has a produce stand. Every year she sees me coming down the row, comes to give me a hug and calls me by name, and calls her family memberrs to come say hello. (You might have seen her on a RS episode. She and I joked about how she was asked to dress up and put on make-up.) I buy some fruit and vegetables. I don't remember having that kind of 'shopping' experience here at home. It's one of those things that makes Italy Italy for me. I've learned to ignore the tourists who are just checking the Campo off their 'must see' list. I was there for a few weeks this past spring. She and her family were not. I feel like I have lost a friend and a piece of my heart.

Robert, those are the best tourism experiences. But you only get them when you invite them so speaks well for you.

So true!

There is a small market near Piazza Monte d"Oro named Campo Marzio that did not seem to attract tourists, although it's in central Rome... I was so happy that it was there that I did not mind being awakened every morning by the clatter of the stalls being set up!

I've had less trouble finding markets geared to locals in Spain than I have in italy.

What I see in Italy are weekly markets that set up in towns and sell some food, and lots of socks and underwear.
But in Spain, there seems to be covered food markets in most towns of any size...and these are open daily except Sundays.

Fortunately, the locals still shop at the markets in Budapest. Even the big tourist market has dozens and dozens of produce and meat vendors. Someone on the forum once said stay away cause its all tourists … didn’t know tourists bought enough pig heads and turnips to keep all those vendors in business. But the upper floor is all tourist now but has been for over 20 years. No idea what it was before 1990.

Then we have a few smaller ones that have stayed in business by giving a fourth to a third over to a grocery store and kept the remainder for traditional vendors. That works for everyone.

I guess it works here because people still live in the city. But a little way out of the center is my favorite and from old phots I have seen hasn’t changed much in 50 years.