This is the real thing. Takes place every Sunday morning, throughout the year. At 10.00am it was packed, and cars were still pouring in at 11.00am, even at 1.50 euro a throw. If you don’t have a car, take the number 2 bus from Piazzale Tecchio, and get off at Terme di Agnano (when everyone else gets off).
It is primarily for locals (I didn’t hear any foreign voices), and has something for everyone, with a small well-used children’s playground, as well as the stalls (and some excellent food and drink). The goods are mainly second-hand, with only a sprinkling of new things. You can buy everything that is available at viale Dohrn, as well as old clothes, used children’s toys, electrical goods and tools, household and kitchen ware, books, records and CDs. All in all, a good quality car-boot sale.
The location is idyllic. This must be the only flea market anywhere in the world which takes place inside a volcano, and it’s worth going just to see the site. There were maybe 100 stalls, spread out along the paths of a deserted park, with the picturesque ruins of a nineteenth century spa as backdrop. At the lower end of the site, you can see the hot springs themselves, quietly bubbling and steaming away behind their safety fence. Further along are the remains of the Roman bath site.