Roman forum, the center of religious and public life in ancient Rome

The Roman Forum, located between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, is the greatest sign of the splendour of the Roman Empire that can be seen today. It is a rectangular square surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.

After the fall of the Empire, little by little the Roman Forum was buried under the earth. Although in the 16th century the existence and location of the Forum was already known, it was not until the 20th century that excavations were carried out.

The Roman Forum developed gradually, organically, and piecemeal over many centuries. By the Imperial period, the large public buildings that crowded around the central square had reduced the open area to a rectangle of about 130 by 50 meters.

The Forum area includes: the Basilica Aemilia on the north and the Basilica Julia on the south, Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, Arch of Titus (that commemorates Rome’s victory over Jerusalem, built after the death of the emperor Titus), Arch of Septimius Severus (to commemorate the third anniversary of Septimius Severus as the emperor), Temple of Antoninus and Faustina (the best preserved temple in the Roman Forum), The Curia, Column of Phocas and Via Sacra (which linked the Piazza del Campidoglio with the Colosseum).

The Roman Forum is one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the Rome, discover it with one our tours!