On Saturday June 9, it finally happened. The Mercato di Testaccio, a nearly century-old institution, saw its last day of operation. The controversial closure will be followed by relocation to the Nuovo Mercato di Testaccio in an aesthetically offensive space a few blocks away. Reports state the new market will open on June 13. When I walked by the (now) ex-Mercato di Testaccio today, the atmosphere was a bit surreal. A dozen police cars and lots of undercover cops were a really appropriate use of tax euros guarded the entrances of the market. Inside, Carmelo d’Agostino, the market’s tomato specialist, tended to his produce alone. I was with two lovely Aussies and he beckoned us inside for a look at his varied crop and warned us he couldn’t sell us anything but said he wasn’t going to stay home today.
Update (June 12): a last minute city decree has reopened the (soon to be old) market from June 12-30. The Nuovo Mercato is slated to open July 2.
Justin Naylor
June 12th, 2012 at 12:59 am
s
June 12th, 2012 at 1:01 am
this made me so sad- i shopped here all those years that i lived in Rome. i got so much free food from there, it isnt even funny. like a bunch of parsley, or the latest tommies that were in season, or a bunch of flowers. even the shoe guys were amazing. why do they have to bugger it all up and make them go to that ugly new place?
btw, your post has a really witty line- (the part you crossed out) tee hee
x s
Christine
June 12th, 2012 at 1:06 am
I thought the market closing couldn’t get sadder, but then there was a lone tomato specialist who wouldn’t stay home.
Sue
June 12th, 2012 at 1:30 am
So sad. I wanted to visit the market in Oct when I come to Rome. Guess I am too late.
Erica
June 13th, 2012 at 2:03 am
This sucks. Now I fear for San Giovanni di Dio.
Katie
June 13th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
some good news: the testaccio market reopened june 12 and will remain open until june 30. the new market is slated to open july 2. gotta love rome!
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