Roman Forum – Ultimate Guide for Antic History Lovers

The Roman Forum (Foro Romano) was the centre of civic and economic life during the Republican era and the Imperial period. The Via Sacra crossed the site, leading to the Capitoline Hill, and served as the route for the triumphal parades of victorious generals, laden with loot and accompanied by rows of prisoners.

According to historians, people first began publicly meeting in the open-air Forum around 500 BC.

The Roman Forum area housed many important religious, political, and social activities and was home to numerous ancient temples, statues, and monuments. Nowadays, it is considered one of the most renowned tourist sites in the world, attracting more than 4.5 million visitors annually. Previously, the site featured the ancient royal residence, the Regia from the 8th century BC, the Temple of Vesta from the 7th century BC, and the complex of the Vestal Virgins.

However, these structures were reconstructed following the rise of imperial Rome. In 179 BC, the new Basilica Aemilia was established, and all judicial activity was transferred there. One hundred and thirty years later, Julius Caesar built the Basilica Julia and Curia Julia, relocating both judicial offices and the Senate to the area.

People gathered in the Forum for commercial, political, judicial, and religious purposes.

Later, the Forum Romanum was expanded with structures such as Trajan’s Forum and the Basilica Ulpia. Finally, the last construction completed on this site was in 312 by Constantine the Great: the Basilica of Maxentius.

Tickets and Opening Hours

If you are planning to visit the Roman Forum, one of the most ancient and significant sites in Rome, you will need to purchase an entrance ticket, which includes access to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Of course, the best option is to book an individual guided tour to explore the Roman Forum’s statues, buildings, and monuments, the remains of ancient palaces on Palatine Hill, innovative structures within the Flavian Amphitheatre, and to learn fascinating historical facts about ancient Rome. Also, walking tours from the Colosseum to the Roman Forum can skip the queue with the same ticket price.

Things to Know Before Visiting the Roman Forum on Your Own

Map of the Roman Forum

Visiting Roman Forum with Kids

• It can get extremely hot in Rome during summer days, so it is best to visit the Forum in the morning or late afternoon as it is an open-air site exposed to the sun.
• Please bring a water bottle and snacks for children, as there are no shops within the Forum grounds.
• A sling or baby carrier is recommended—don’t forget the cobbled streets of ancient Rome.
• Don’t worry; the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are spacious and engaging for children.
• Wear comfortable footwear.

If you have more time available, don’t miss the chance to visit the most ancient museum in the world, which holds essential artefacts from Roman Forum excavations – the Capitoline Museums

10 Interesting Facts about the Roman Forum

Equip yourself with these fascinating insights about the Roman Forum, guaranteed to enrich your visit and impress your companions with your historical acumen.

1. Speakers in ancient Rome stood on a sizeable platform known as the rostra, facing the north side of the comitium towards the Senate. This vantage point was symbolic, demonstrating the speaker’s authority and the respect commanded by the Senate, the epicentre of Roman legislative power.
2. In a bid to enhance the spectator experience during public games, in 318 BC, Gaius Maenius introduced balconies, known as maeniana, to the Forum buildings. This architectural innovation offered spectators a better view and embodied the spirit of Roman communal experiences.
3. The first basilica ever constructed in the Forum vicinity was the Basilica Fulvia in 184 BC. This monument set a trend for Rome’s public buildings, combining Greek and Roman architectural features. A mere nine years later, the Basilica Sempronia emerged, testifying to the rapid development of the Forum.
4. Not far from the bustling Forum lay the Tullianum, the state prison of ancient Rome. As a symbol of Roman law and order, this sombre structure housed many notable prisoners, adding a poignant note to the grandeur of the nearby Forum.
5. The structures of the Roman Forum aren’t just ruins; they represent some of the principal architectural masterpieces in the history of the world. Their enduring design, despite centuries of decay, showcases the profound impact of Roman civilisation on global architecture.
6. Stretching across an expansive area of 250 by 170 metres (or 820 by 560 feet), the Roman Forum was a testament to Rome’s architectural prowess and the significance it placed on public spaces for civic life.
7. Over the centuries, the Roman Forum was not a product of a single architectural vision, but a gradually developed space. Each epoch added its layers, creating a complex landscape of buildings and monuments that encapsulated Rome’s evolving history.
8. The last major territorial expansion of the Forum occurred during the reign of Constantine the Great. This period saw the Forum reach its zenith in size and architectural grandeur, reflecting the high point of the Roman Empire.
9. Incredibly, archaeological excavations of the Roman Forum continue even today. Each new dig peels back the layers of history, revealing more about the Roman civilisation and the life that thrived in this central civic space.
10. Even though the Roman Forum was the most prominent, Rome was dotted with several other forums. These forums catered to the city’s growing administrative needs and population, embodying the scale and complexity of Rome’s urban planning.

Here’s a 3D Model of the Forum:

The History of the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was developed gradually over the centuries. Initially, its site was a lake filled by waters from the surrounding hills. Consequently, it was drained in the 7th century BC by the Tarquins with the construction of the Cloaca Maxima—a vast covered sewer system connected to the Tiber River. Historically, the creation of the Forum is linked to Romulus, the first king of Rome, who lived on the Palatine Hill, and his rival, Titus Tatius, who lived on the Capitoline Hill. An alliance between them emerged after the cries of the Sabine women had halted the fighting. Moreover, the Forum lay outside the walls of the Sabine fortress, accessible via the Porta Saturni. These walls were eventually destroyed when the two peoples united.

Rome’s second king, Numa Pompilius (715–673 BC), established the cult of Vesta. As a result, the House and Temple of Vesta were founded, along with the city’s first royal palace, the Regia. The next king, Tullus Hostilius (r. 673–642 BC), defined the boundaries of the Comitium, which became the meeting place of the Senate. During the Republican period, judicial and political affairs in the city continued to be conducted there. Consequently, the Senate decided to expand the open space between the Comitium and the Temple of Vesta to create additional room. Previously, private houses occupied this area, but the Senate acquired them for public use.

Earliest Forum temples are the Temple of Saturn (497 BC) and the Temple of Castor and Pollux (484 BC), while the first basilicas were built in 184 BC by Marcus Porcius Cato.

The 80s BC marked the period of Sulla’s dictatorship, during which significant reconstruction took place in the Forum. Consequently, the Comitium was lost due to the expansion of the Curia and alterations implemented by Julius Caesar, continuing up until his assassination in 44 BC. That same year, Marc Antony delivered his funeral oration for Caesar from the New Rostra, and Caesar’s body was publicly cremated on the site before the Rostra. Later, the Temple to the Deified Caesar was erected by his great-nephew Octavius (Augustus), who became the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. Moreover, following Caesar’s death, Augustus completed his uncle’s projects, giving the Forum its final layout. Structures such as the Temple of Divus Iulius and the Arch of Augustus were added in 29 BC.

In 110 AD, Trajan’s Forum was constructed, and many economic and judicial activities were relocated to the Basilica Ulpia. Additionally, the Arch of Septimius Severus was built near Capitoline Hill to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons. Later, Emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305) was the last to reorganise and renovate the Forum. He reconstructed the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Vesta, and the Curia. Since the earlier Curia had burned down, the version built by Diocletian is the one still visible today. Notably, under the reign of Constantine the Great, the Basilica of Maxentius was completed in 312 AD—marking the final major expansion of the Forum’s territory. The political centre remained the Forum until the fall of the Western Roman Empire nearly two centuries later.

Read also about Triumphal Arch of Constantine

Medieval Period

The Medieval period is notable for the dramatic decline in Rome’s population: from 750,000–800,000 to 450,000 in 450 AD, and then to 250,000 by 500 AD.

Moreover, in the 6th century, some of the old structures located within the Forum began to be converted into Christian churches. In 608, the Column of Phocas was erected near the Rostra, dedicated in honour of the Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas. It was the last monumental addition made to the Roman Forum. By the 8th century, the entire area was surrounded by Christian churches. Many structures were dismantled, repurposed, and used to build castles and feudal towers. In the 13th century, these constructions were demolished, and the area was reduced to a dumping ground.

Temples

The Roman Forum includes existing and former buildings, memorials, and other significant structures from its 1,400 years of active use (8th century BC – 600 AD).

Temple of Saturn

The Temple of Saturn (Tempio di Saturno) was an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the god Saturn. It stands near Capitoline Hill and is believed to have been built in 497 BC. Even today, you can see the inscription on its pediment: “Senatus Populusque Romanus incendio consumptum restituit,” meaning “The Senate and People of Rome restored (the temple) consumed by fire.” In Roman mythology, Saturn ruled during the Golden Age and was associated with wealth. Thus, his temple housed the treasury (aerarium) containing the Republic’s reserves of gold and silver. However, the aerarium was later transferred to the nearby Tabularium, the building that stored essential state archives.

Temple of Vesta

The Temple of Vesta (Tempio di Vesta) was an ancient structure located near the Regia and the House of the Vestal Virgins in the Roman Forum. It featured Greek-style architecture with twenty Corinthian columns, marble construction, and a central cella with a distinctive circular layout. In addition, all temples to Vesta were round with east-facing entrances, symbolising the link between Vesta’s sacred fire and the sun as life-giving forces. The Temple of Vesta dates to the 7th century BC and is traditionally attributed to Numa Pompilius.

Temple of Jupiter

The Temple of Jupiter Stator was a former sanctuary on the slope of Capitoline Hill. According to legend, Romulus vowed to build the temple during a battle between the Romans and Sabines. He later founded the temple on the battle site, probably near the Porta. However, the temple was destroyed during the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD.

Tabularium

The Tabularium was the records office where the laws and official deeds of ancient Rome were stored, alongside the offices of many city officials. Located near Capitoline Hill, below the Temple of Jupiter and facing the Temples of Vespasian and Concord, the Tabularium’s construction was commissioned around 78 BC by the dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla. However, it was completed by Quintus Lutatius Catulus, who served as consul in 78 BC. During the Middle Ages, a fortress was built over the remaining part of the Tabularium, which was later converted into the Palazzo Senatorio. Since then, the structure has been used for the city’s administrative functions.

Arches

Arches were a hallmark of architectural innovation throughout the Roman Empire. Triumphal arches, in particular, were erected to commemorate military victories.

Arch of Titus

The Arch of Titus (Arco di Tito) is a 1st-century triumphal arch situated on the Via Sacra. It was built in 82 AD by Emperor Domitian following the death of his elder brother Titus. The arch commemorates the Emperor’s victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

The arch served as the model for many triumphal arches worldwide, including those built in the 16th century. It also inspired the design of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The Arch of Titus symbolises the Jewish diaspora. The menorah depicted on the arch served as the model for the menorah used on the emblem of the State of Israel.

Arch of Septimius Severus

The Arch of Septimius Severus (Arco di Settimio Severo) is a white marble triumphal arch constructed in 203 AD to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta. After the Emperor’s death, his sons ruled jointly until Caracalla had Geta assassinated in 212. Subsequently, all of Geta’s memorials were destroyed. The arch, made from travertine, measures approximately 23 metres in height and 25 metres in width. It features two sets of reliefs: the first includes four large panels on each side of the attic, and the second comprises eight panels inset into the inner walls of the four archways.

Read about the main attractions in Rome.

Check your Knowledge about Roman Forum

Embark on an intellectual challenge and measure the depth of your understanding of the Roman Forum. Below, a series of carefully curated questions and insightful answers await—indispensable knowledge for every true connoisseur of antiquity.

Where to Stay near the Roman Forum – the Best Hotels and Apartments

Feast your eyes upon our editorially handpicked collection of the finest accommodations near the Roman Forum. Each, renowned for their exemplary service and enviable location, serves as a perfect base for delving into the myriad wonders of the Eternal City.

Palm Suites Luxury Hotel

Palm Suites Luxury Hotel, positioned in the heart of Rome, is an embodiment of luxury and homeliness.

Praise for this property centres around its exceptional location, a stone’s throw from the Colosseum and major attractions. Commendations for the warm, dedicated staff are frequent, with their customer service drawing particular appreciation. The rooms are spacious, clean, and well-equipped, providing a peaceful oasis amidst the bustle. The high-quality fittings, excellent breakfast offerings, and responsive service make Palm Suites a top recommendation for travellers.

The Inn at the Roman Forum

The Inn at the Roman Forum, nestled in ancient Rome, captivates with its intimate charm, historical setting, and impeccable service.

Guests are charmed by the warm, personalised interactions with staff, making them feel like family. Unforgettable experiences include breakfast with a Roman Forum view and the unique experience of onsite ruins. The property’s central location offers easy access to sights, restaurants, and amenities. Its spacious, tastefully decorated rooms and exceptional staff amplify the feeling of an exclusive retreat in the heart of the Eternal City.

Foro Romano Luxury Suites

Foro Romano Luxury Suites, a stone’s throw from the Roman Forum, offers a serene yet central location.

Praised for their friendly and helpful hosts, this property boasts immaculate, cosy rooms with modern amenities, including free WiFi. Guests are thrilled by the excellent hospitality, with special mention of personalised services like dinner reservations and tour bookings. Nearby dining options and notable attractions enrich the locale. It’s highly recommended for its comfortable beds and commendable cleanliness.

Romano Boutique Hotel

Situated between iconic landmarks, Romano Boutique Hotel offers a unique charm with its one-of-a-kind rooms in a historic building.

Despite the compact nature of the rooms, which is common across Europe, the hotel garners praise for its comfort, cleanliness, and soundproofing. The location’s safety and proximity to major attractions like the Colosseum, along with the excellent customer service—particularly the helpful and friendly staff—make it a cherished choice. The hotel’s value is further enhanced by conveniences such as nearby dining options and discounted breakfast.

Elegant Apartment Behind the Colosseum

The Elegant Apartment Behind the Colosseum is praised for its unbeatable location, just steps from the Roman Forum and Colosseum.

Guests appreciate the nearby amenities and the comfortable, fully equipped space with efficient heating and a welcoming atmosphere. The attentive host receives accolades for exceptional service, including tailored recommendations, transport assistance, and continuous communication. Notable features include the rooftop terrace and the apartment’s ability to provide a truly Roman living experience.

Madonna dei Monti

Madonna dei Monti – beautiful accommodation just 1.1 km from the Colosseum and the Forum.

Free Wi-Fi, private bathroom, coffee machine, electric kettle, flat-screen TV, and other amenities. Staying in this area of Rome is very convenient for travellers interested in food, history, and architecture.

The Inn At The Roman Forum

The Inn at the Roman Forum – has fantastic reviews from its visitors. It is located in the heart of ancient Rome within walking distance of the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Moreover, it houses ancient ruins inside the property. The rooms are modern, and a rich breakfast is served each morning. Travellers love this hotel for its location, service, and spacious, clean rooms.

Author: Artur Jakucewicz

I’ve lived in Rome for over a decade and am delighted to share my knowledge and experience. Passionate about ancient history and architecture, I’m the author of travel guides to Italy designed especially for independent travellers.

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