The Mercato Centrale Roma kicks off its new season of events with a jam-packed September: first, an immersion in Korean culture, followed by a prelude to the MULTI Festival, dedicated to dialogue among peoples. Four days spread over two weekends, from September 19 to 23, with a program spanning gastronomy, crafts, music, language, and political reflection.
Korea Festival: September 19 and 20
On September 19 and 20, the Market will host the Korea Festival, two days that bring the traditions, flavors, and customs of one of the countries that has captured the cultural interest of half the world in recent years right to the heart of the capital.
The program is packed and hands-on. In the kitchen, participants will prepare three dishes: daikon kimchi (Kkakdugi) with KimchiPop (€30), gimbap with Chef Sun (€30), and buckwheat noodles (€30). Those who prefer something more structured can book the tasting dinner curated by Dak (€40), featuring traditional recipes and insights into the ingredients.
Beyond the kitchen, K-Beauty takes center stage: skincare masterclasses led by Glow-Up (€35) guide participants from skin analysis to creating a personalized routine. There’s also an introductory Korean language class where you’ll write your name in Hangul on a fan (€20), a Korean mixology masterclass (€10), and a mother-of-pearl decoration workshop (€30) on Sunday.
On the ground floor, K-Pop battles and performances organized by Kpop in Rome; on the first floor, traditional games, traditional masks, talks, and booths dedicated to skincare, crafts, and travel. Korean street food stands and a Korean Bar will be open all weekend. Event reservations are available on the dedicated website.
Fuori MULTI: September 22 and 23
On September 22 and 23, the Market offers a preview of the MULTI Festival—scheduled for September 24–27 in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II—with two evenings featuring affordable admission and focused on storytelling and community.
On September 22 at 6:30 p.m. , the focus is on Gaza: voices, information, and paths to peace —a free evening featuring a screening of the short film *Tears for Roses* from the Nazra Palestine Short Film Festival, followed by remarks from the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, H.E. Mona Abuamara; MEP Cecilia Strada (via online link); journalist Tiziana Biolghini; and Youssef Hassan Holgado, a journalist for the daily newspaper *Domani*. The evening will conclude with a tasting of Palestinian dishes organized by the Il Faro d’Oriente Association.
On September 23, two cooking demonstrations, each for €5, offer a glimpse into other traditions: at 7 p.m., Harvinder Kapil will prepare paneer, the fresh Indian cheese; at 8 p.m., Sara Farag will prepare Egyptian koshary —rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, crispy onions, and spicy sauce. Reservations are available on the Fuori MULTI portal.
All events take place at the Mercato Centrale Roma, Via Giovanni Giolitti 36. For more information, visit mercatocentrale.it.
