Porta Portese

The mercato delle pulci or flea market is a relatively new market |n Roman terms. Established shortly after the end of World War II, it is said to have grown out of the thriving black market that operated at Tor di Nona opposite Castel Sant'Angeto during those lean years. Stallholders come from as far away as Naples and set up Shop in the early hours of the morning - if you are strolling in that direction after a late night in Trastevere, it's well worth pausing just to watch them.Anything and everything seems to be for sale, piled high on stalls gin carefully arranged disorder - clothes, shoes, bags, luggage, camping equipment, linen, towels,pans, kitchen utensils, plants, pets, spare parts, cassettes and CD's, old LPs and 78s.Furniture stalls tend to be concentrated around Piazza Ippotito Nievo along with what they call "antiques", though you may have to sort through an awful tot of junk before finding a real one. And then you will have to bargain for it. The technique is to offer them half the asked price and then walk away. A lot of people go just for the fun of it and always end up buying something.There are also second- hand clothes - leather or sheepskin coats and jackets go for L.10,000 - with many of the Via Sannio stall holders relocating here for the Sunday trade. The stretch along Via Ippolito Nievo is monopolized by i Russi di Porta Portese', immigrant Russian stallholders selling caviar, icons (authenticity uncertain), lace, other ethnic handicrafts, old cameras and binoculars. A must if you have a Sunday morning to spare.

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Contact Information

Porta Portese
Viale Trastevere
00152 Roma

Tel. +396

http://www.romeguide.it