Green Market Festival

A market that has changed the way Rome shops

Founded in 2020 by Laura Carli and Stefania Romano of the EticArte Association, the Green Market Festival has quickly become one of the most recognizable fixtures in the Roman calendar dedicated to sustainability. It takes place at the Città dell'Altra Economia, on Largo Dino Frisullo, within the repurposed spaces of the former Mattatoio in Testaccio, in the Municipality of Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio. The format is that of a monthly market exhibition: one weekend a month, with occasional special seasonal editions, the large outdoor courtyard and covered pavilions fill with stalls, workshops, and meeting spaces.

Seventy selected artisans

The heart of the event remains the selection of exhibitors: approximately seventy artisans from all over Italy, chosen based on quality criteria that prioritize eco-sustainable raw materials and techniques. The visitor path covers a wide range of productions:

• contemporary jewelry and handcrafted goldsmithing;
• ceramics, terracotta, and handmade tableware;
• tailored clothing, natural textiles, and vintage garments;
• natural cosmetics and personal care products;
• rare plants, flower design, and urban gardening;
• independent publishing, illustration, and children's items.

One rule applies throughout the event: no product may contain animal-derived components. This principle also extends to catering, with an entirely plant-based food & beverage area, ranging from street food to sandwiches, wraps, and pizza trucks.

More than just stalls: workshops, wellness, and culture

Each edition features a program of free or low-cost activities that run throughout the day. Past editions have included yoga and Yoga Nidra classes, Pilates and Gyrotonic sessions, ceramics workshops for adults and children, courses in kintsugi, felting, and art therapy, nature reconnection meetings, book presentations, and small theatrical performances. A dedicated space is reserved for holistic treatments practiced by wellness professionals: shiatsu, foot reflexology, craniosacral therapy, reiki, and massage. Recent editions have also introduced a listening and counseling area dedicated to women.

An event designed for everyone

The Green Market Festival clearly asserts its inclusive character: the event is family-friendly, pet-friendly, and LGBTQ+ friendly, and the spaces of the Città dell'Altra Economia are free of architectural barriers and fully accessible to people with disabilities. The event is plastic-free: tableware and materials used in the dining area are compostable. Children have access to creative workshops, painting, decoupage, and face painting throughout the day.

Testaccio, the perfect neighborhood

The choice of venue is no coincidence. The former Mattatoio in Testaccio is one of Rome's great examples of industrial archaeology repurposed for cultural use, and the Città dell'Altra Economia occupies a portion dedicated specifically to solidarity economy, fair trade, and critical consumption. A few steps away are the Monte dei Cocci, the Testaccio Market, and the Mattatoio Museum: a visit to the Green Market Festival is easily combined with a stroll through one of the most authentic neighborhoods in the capital.

Special editions

In addition to the monthly appointments, the event offers some thematic editions that have become tradition: the Winter Edition in early February, the autumn edition in October with Halloween-themed workshops, and above all the Green Market on Christmas, the Christmas village that occupies several weekends in December with concerts, shows, and a Christmas market.