Roman Forum

Overview

The Roman Forum (Foro Romano) is simply the most significant archaeological site in Europe. For over a millennium, this sprawling, currently ruined valley served as the political, religious, commercial, and legal beating heart of the massive Roman Empire.

Highlights

• Temple of Saturn: The eight towering, iconic columns standing at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, which historically functioned as the fortified State Treasury.
• The Curia Julia: The intact, massive brick Senate House originally built by Julius Caesar, where the massive fate of the entire known world was debated and decided.
• Arch of Titus: The stunningly preserved triumphal arch depicting the brutal Roman sack of Jerusalem in 70 AD, including the detailed theft of the massive Menorah.

History

Originally a malarial, uninhabitable swamp located squarely between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. In the 6th century BC, the massive engineering project of the Cloaca Maxima (the great sewer) drained the valley, allowing it to become the central massive meeting place for the tribes. It peaked under the emperors before slowly, silently decaying into a cow pasture (Campo Vaccino) during the grim Middle Ages, buried under 40 feet of dirt.

Visitor Tips

• Perspective: Do not skip climbing slightly up the Palatine Hill or looking down from the Capitoline Hill behind it; the ruins make more spatial sense when viewed from above.
• The Sun: There is virtually zero shade in the massive valley. Bring heavy sunscreen, hats, and a massive water bottle (there are free ancient water fountains inside to refill).