{"id":37522,"date":"2024-06-18T15:20:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T15:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=37522"},"modified":"2025-12-18T18:55:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T18:55:15","slug":"what-to-see-at-the-roman-forum-plus-tips-for-visiting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/what-to-see-at-the-roman-forum-plus-tips-for-visiting\/","title":{"rendered":"What To See at the Roman Forum Plus Tips for Visiting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Eternal City is a place where history comes to life at every turn as stunning monuments and impressive ruins tell the story of the city’s illustrious past. One of the most iconic and historically significant sites is the Roman Forum, located right below the Palatine Hill and sandwiched between the Colosseum and the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument connected by the Via dei Fori Imperiali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This complex was once the center of political, social, and commercial life in ancient Rome. It was in use for over a thousand years, from around 700 BCE to 400 CE. Today, the Roman Forum ruins consist of temples, arches, monuments, and public spaces that provide a glimpse into the life of ancient Romans and the enduring legacy of this once-great civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brief history of the Roman Forum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Roman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Forum was originally a marshy valley, but the area was eventually paved, and for centuries it was a bustling hub of activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very first structures were built in the 7th century BCE. Around the year 500 BCE, the area really started booming. Major expansions started and continued until 300 CE. (That\u2019s 800 years in case you weren\u2019t counting.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Roman Empire began to fall, so did the upkeep of the Forum. By 400 CE, most of the ancient buildings were destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That brings us to the Middle Ages. By then, it had become a pasture for cattle and was largely forgotten. It was only in the 18th and 19th centuries that scholars began to excavate and study the site, uncovering its many layers of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun fact: <\/strong>Archeological discoveries at the Roman Forum still happen today. There was one as recent as 2020 \u2014 an underground temple believed to date back to the 6th century BCE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the Roman Forum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One of the things that makes the Roman Forum so special is being able to walk the same streets the average, ancient Roman citizens walked \u2014 imagining their daily lives of going to the market, attending a political speech, meeting friends, or just living life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I\u2019m there, I find it so interesting to think that our lives today are very similar to those of the ancient Romans \u2014 even 2,000 years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning to visit the Roman Forum? Here are some of the highlights that should be on your list of must-sees of this remarkable site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Temple of Julius Caesar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A visit to the Forum would never be complete without paying your respects to the ultimate ruler of Rome, Julius Caesar. This temple was built to honor the spot where his body was cremated. To this day, flowers and cards are left at this site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Column of Phocas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The Column of Phocas, Forum Romanum, Rome, Italy. On the right, Arch of Septimius Severus and the facade of the Church of Saint Luke and Martina.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This Corinthian-style pillar was named after the Byzantine emperor Phocas and was erected around 608 CE. It was the last honorary monument built in the Roman Forum. It towers at 44 feet (13.5 meters) tall and is made of white marble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The Arch of Titus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Arch of Titus located in the Roman Forum in Rome during a sunny day. No people<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Located at the entrance to the Forum, this arch was built to commemorate the military victories of the emperor Titus, including the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Titus ruled over a century after Julius Caesar. He was still the first to come to inherit power from his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arch is adorned with sculptures depicting the triumphal procession and the spoils of war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Temple of Romulus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ancient<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This temple is more intact than many buildings in the Roman Forum. For that, we can thank the fact that it was repurposed much later as part of a basilica for the saints Cosmas and Damian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tour-goers today enjoy seeing the massive bronze door pictured above. It\u2019s no longer the color of burnished bronze, but its ancient look is all the more impressive. It\u2019s centered between two stone columns and still has a working lock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building, known officially as the Temple of Divine Romulus, was dedicated to the son of Maxentius in 309 CE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. The Temple of Saturn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the oldest temples in the Forum and was dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and wealth. The Saturnalia festival would be celebrated here in the early days of its use, but alas, all good things came to an end, and eventually instead of festivals, the building became an administrative government center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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