Mercato di Piazza del Mercato
Every morning except Sunday, Frascati's compact street market fills the piazza with colour — volcanic-soil vegetables, fragrant herbs, fresh pasta and the banter of vendors who have known their customers for decades. It is the best possible introduction to what actually grows in the Castelli Romani hills.
What You'll Find
The volcanic soil of the Colli Albani produces noticeably sweet and earthy produce: look for puntarelle (the bitter chicory shoot that Romans dress with anchovy vinaigrette), carciofi romaneschi (the fat, violet-tinged artichokes), and misticanza — the wild herb salad mix that no Roman kitchen is without in spring.
Cheese and cured-meat stalls sit alongside flower sellers and a handful of clothing vendors. One or two stalls specialise in local Frascati DOC wines and olive oils; buying a bottle directly from a grower here is both cheaper and more rewarding than any enoteca.
Practical Tips for Shoppers
Arrive before 10:00 for the best selection and the most animated atmosphere; by noon stalls begin packing up. Bring cash — most vendors do not accept cards. A small wheeled trolley bag is the local accessory of choice and makes sense if you plan to load up.
The piazza is a five-minute walk east of the train station along Viale Vittorio Veneto. After shopping, the bar on the corner of the square does a fine espresso and cornetto for under €2 — the ideal way to debrief your haul.
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