Giordano Bruno



Campo de' Fiore, Rome

Rome in literature

Giordano Bruno (1548 – 1600), born in Nola (and therefore often referred to as the Nolan) here mentioned by James Joyce in “The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”.

Stephen Dedalus writing on his diary on the 24^th of March following an initial discussion with his mother about religion…

“Then went to college. Other wrangle with little roundhead rogue’seye Ghezzi. This time about Bruno the Nolan. Began in Italian and ended in pidgin English. He said Bruno was a terrible heretic. I said he was terribly burned. He agreed to this with some sorrow. Then gave me recipe for what he calls ristto alla bergamasca. When pronounces a soft o he protrudes his full carnal lips as if he kissed the vowel. Has he? And could he repent? Yes, he could: and cry two round rogue’s tears, one from each eye.”

The statue of Giordano Bruno stands ominously silent at the centre of Campo de’ Fiore in Rome surrounded by the stands of flowers, fruit, vegetables and fish.

Giordano burned by the inquisition on this very same place.

The history of Campo de’ Fiori is long and interesting. Well worth a visit after a pizza in Pizzeria Montecarlo just around the corner.

I strongly recommend the pizza Montecarlo with a fried egg on top…