Handmade With Love - Artisan-Only Market

An artisan-only market in the heart of Testaccio

Handmade With Love is one of the most recognizable events on the Roman calendar dedicated to creative craftsmanship. It takes place at the Città dell'Altra Economia, a large repurposed complex within the Ex Mattatoio di Testaccio, located on Largo Dino Frisullo in Rome, in the Lazio region. The concept is clear and stated from the very name: the market features only artisans who sell what they produce with their own hands, with no resale of industrial products.

What you will find at the stalls

Each edition brings together dozens of exhibitors from Rome and the surrounding area. The product categories are diverse and cover the entire spectrum of handmade goods:

• Clothing and accessories with sophisticated designs, often made from natural or recycled fabrics;
• Jewelry and handmade costume jewelry, crafted from metal, resin, ceramic, or reclaimed materials;
• Home decor and objects, ranging from ceramics to art prints;
• Children's items: toys, baby layettes, and illustrations;
• Natural products and artisanal cosmetics;
• Creative craft workshops hosted directly by the exhibitors.

The choice to work only with direct creators is what gives the market its identity: shoppers can talk to the person who made the item, learn about the materials, and very often request small customizations.

A day designed for families

Handmade With Love is more than just a market. The large lawn and porticoes of the Città dell'Altra Economia host an area dedicated to creative activities for children, a street food corner with sweets and gastronomic offerings, and a space reserved for local social associations. The daytime opening, usually starting at 10:00 AM, and free admission make it a perfect family outing, perhaps combined with a stroll through the Testaccio neighborhood.

A project that combines craftsmanship and social commitment

The market was born from the collaboration between the Associazione Anima Verde, the Città dell'Altra Economia, and Roma Open Lab Aps, as part of the Vesto e Investo nel Sociale project. This is not a minor detail: the Città dell'Altra Economia has been, since its inception, a public space dedicated to solidarity-based economy, fair trade, reuse, and conscious consumption. Handmade With Love naturally continues this mission by connecting micro-artisanal businesses, third-sector organizations, and the general public.

A recurring event, not a one-off date

Unlike a festival concentrated in a single weekend, Handmade With Love returns several times throughout the year, usually on Sundays and sometimes over an entire weekend. In 2025, the events took place between January, February, March, April, October, and November; in 2026, the market returned in the spring with an event on Sunday, May 18. The updated calendar is announced periodically on the market's social media channels and in Roman event listings, and artisans interested in participating can write to the dedicated email address.

Why it's worth a visit

For those living in Rome, Handmade With Love is a recurring opportunity to shop outside standard commercial circuits and directly support local artisanal work. For those passing through the capital, it is a unique way to discover Testaccio: a popular, food-loving neighborhood that has become a cultural hub thanks to the restoration of the Ex Mattatoio, where the market fits naturally among exhibition spaces, associations, and historic venues.