The 'Monk Statue' of Giordano Bruno
In the center of Campo de' Fiori stands the statue of Giordano Bruno, a Dominican friar, philosopher and mathematicians. Bruno was burned alive here in 1600 after the Catholic Church accused him of heresy for advocating similar cosmological arguments to those put forward by Galileo.
Immortalized in stone, his dark and brooding figure embodies all the historic martyrs who were executed on this site for daring to defy the church. The statue's positioning is significant: not only does it stand on the exact site of his execution, but Bruno's bronze figure has stood facing the Vatican since the date of its dedication in 1889.
Soaring above the blossoming market, Bruno's statue stands as a stark and powerful reminder of Campo de' Fiori's morbid history. No churches were built here until the 15th century, nor was it until this period that the square was even paved. And so as unused space between the
Largo di Torre Argentina and the often flooding Tiber, Campo de' Fiori served as the scene of public executions.
Campo de' Fiori's Surrounding Streets
Surrounding Campo de’ Fiori are medieval streets lined with artisan shops radiating out in nine directions. Many of these streets take their names after the type of trade or craft practiced there. We have the
for the crossbow-makers, the
for the hat-makers, the Via dei Baullari for those who made the aristocracy's coffersm and the
for the much continued trade of tailoring.
Campo de' Fiori's Fountain
The Campo de' Fiori is also the site of an ancient cattle fountain known as la terrina (i.e. "soup bowl"). La terrina is filled daily with freshly cut flowers, a homage to its name and use in ancient Roman days.
The fountain bares an old inscription, reading: Fa del ben e lassa dir - "Do good and let them talk". This still seems entirely appropriate, given the exchange and gossipy nature of the marketplace.