Biomercato at the Città dell'Altra Economia

An organic market in the heart of Testaccio

The Biomercato at the Città dell'Altra Economia is the go-to weekend destination for those in Rome looking for good, clean, and traceable food. It takes place within the Città dell'Altra Economia complex, located in Largo Dino Frisullo, inside the former Testaccio slaughterhouse: 3,500 square meters reclaimed from the old livestock weighing station and the Campo Boario sheds in the Municipality of Rome, Lazio region. It is a place that tells two stories at once: the working-class industrial history of late 19th-century Rome and a thriving social economy project active since 2007.

Who you will find at the stalls

The market is reserved exclusively for certified organic products and is curated by AIAB Lazio, the regional branch of the Italian Association for Organic Agriculture, in collaboration with the Città dell'Altra Economia Consortium and with the support of the Lazio Region's Department of Agriculture. Every weekend, about thirty farms and twenty artisans gather here. The stalls offer a wide selection of Lazio's countryside bounty:

• seasonal fruit and vegetables, legumes, and cereals
• bread, pasta, and baked goods
• wine, extra virgin olive oil, and preserves
• meat, cured meats, cheese, and dairy products
• honey, jams, and local specialties

Alongside the food producers, the artisan section features ceramics, jewelry, textiles, natural cosmetics, and small handmade objects: the person selling is almost always the one who cultivated or crafted the product, which is the very essence of a farmers' market.

How the calendar works

The Biomercato began sporadically in 2007 with just one event per month. Its success led to it becoming a weekly Sunday event, and in recent years, it has expanded to include Saturdays as well: today, it is effectively a year-round weekend market. Sunday remains the main day with the highest number of stalls. During the summer months, the lineup changes slightly: several producers move seasonally to the Lazio coast, while the artisans remain present even late into July.

Much more than just a market

The Città dell'Altra Economia is not just a place for commerce. Since 2007, it has hosted over a hundred events per year: training workshops, meetings on environmental and social issues, fair trade stalls, concerts, festivals, and parties. Inside, you will find a bio-bar and an organic restaurant, open even on non-market days, as well as the offices of a dozen associations. A morning at the Biomercato can easily turn into a full day: shopping, lunch in the shade of the sheds, and an exhibition or meeting in the afternoon.

Why it is worth a visit

For those living in Rome, it is an easy way to do the weekly shopping while knowing the supply chain; for those passing through, it is a stop that combines gastronomy and industrial archaeology, just a stone's throw from Monte dei Cocci, the Mattatoio Museum, and the local Testaccio market. Entry is free, and the atmosphere is the relaxed, familiar one of a neighborhood that has remained deeply Roman.