Porta Portese Flea Market

Porta Portese the most famous market in Rome. It has a whopping four thousand posts selling everything under the sun, new or used, ancient or modern, useful or random. The market begins at Porta Portese, the newest city gates built by Pope Urban VIII in 1644 and completed by his successor Pope Innocent X. It continues out into the surrounding streets in a grand chaos of shouts, sales-pitches, and music.

Exploring the market is a delirious experience and you'll find something for every taste: luggage, jewelry, tools, used clothing, fishing rods, furniture, toys, fabrics, shoes, etc. Everything you can imagine, you'll find in this market.

Recommended in all most popular travel guides, this market is like an old-fashioned neighborhood market,. but on a vast scale and full of tourists. We explored for a while and especially liked the stalls full of antiques and little treasures to take home. But after an hour or so in the crowd, we decided to return to the car and head for somewhere else.