Campo de' Fiori- statue of Giordano Bruno

One of the first things that will catch your eye when you are at the Campo is the statue of Giordano Bruno which stands in the center of the Campo. At first glance, the guy looks a bit creepy. He is wearing a giant coat with the hood pulled down over his head. His facial expression is stern and he looks like he is gazing down on you. A brown wreath was placed at the foot of this statue. In general, the statue is very intriguing. I was curious to know more about Giordano Bruno.
Giordano Bruno was a priest in the late 1500’s. He had a great interest in science and philosophy. As you might imagine, these things did not sit so well with the Catholic Church at the time. So, Bruno was excommunicated. After excommunication, he traveled to France and England. He later returned to Italy and was put on trial under the Roman Inquisition. He refused disavow his philosophical beliefs and was found guilty. Two weeks later he was burned at the stake in Campo, at the same spot where his statue stands today. It is also interesting how Bruno’s statue faces toward the Vatican.