Roman Forum

Rome, Italy

The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. It was for centuries the center of Roman public life: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men. The teeming heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history. Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations attracting 4.5 million sightseers yearly.

Many of the oldest and most important structures of the ancient city were located on or near the Forum. The Roman kingdom's earliest shrines and temples were located on the southeastern edge. These included the ancient former royal residence, the Regia (8th century BC), and the Temple of Vesta (7th century BC), as well as the surrounding complex of the Vestal Virgins, all of which were rebuilt after the rise of imperial Rome.

Other archaic shrines to the northwest, such as the Umbilicus Urbis and the Vulcanal (Shrine of Vulcan), developed into the Republic's formal Comitium (assembly area). This is where the Senate - as well as Republican government itself - began. The Senate House, government offices, tribunals, temples, memorials and statues gradually cluttered the area.

Over time the archaic Comitium was replaced by the larger adjacent Forum and the focus of judicial activity moved to the new Basilica Aemilia (179 BC). Some 130 years later, Julius Caesar built the Basilica Julia, along with the new Curia Julia, refocusing both the judicial offices and the Senate itself. This new Forum, in what proved to be its final form, then served as a revitalized city square where the people of Rome could gather for commercial, political, judicial and religious pursuits in ever greater numbers.

Many of the Forum's monuments were originally built in the periods of the Kingdom (753 BC - 509 BC) and the Republic (509 BC - 27 BC), although most were destroyed and rebuilt several times. The existing ruins generally date from the Imperial period ( 7 BC - 476 AD).

Eventually much economic and judicial business would transfer away from the Forum Romanum to the larger and more extravagant structures (Trajan's Forum and the Basilica Ulpia) to the north. The reign of Constantine the Great saw the construction of the last major expansion of the Forum complex - the Basilica of Maxentius (312 AD). This returned the political center to the Forum until the fall of the Western Roman Empire almost two centuries later.

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Address

Via in Miranda 15, Rome, Italy
See all sites in Rome

Details

Founded: 8th century BC
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Italy

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Adélaïde (47 days ago)
Big history, big monuments (what's left of them), people then definitely had a lot to prove to whoever to make such massive places. I do not recommend visiting under the heavy rains and lightning unless you want to spend 5 euros on ponchos that are more likely to des integrate with the rain. What do you mean you can't chose the weather?
Aaron Sutanto (51 days ago)
Located beside the Colosseum, the Roman Forum is truly worth visiting when you're in Rome. Walking through these ruins feels like stepping into a time machine, offering a glimpse into ancient Roman life. The Roman Forum was once the heart of Roman public life, filled with bustling markets, grand temples, basilicas, and government buildings. It was the center of politics, religion, and commerce, where Romans gathered for everything from public speeches to celebrations. The architecture reflects the grandeur of ancient Rome, with towering columns, arches, and remnants of monumental structures. It's a fascinating site for architecture and history lovers, and exploring its ruins allows you to imagine how grand and vibrant the Forum once was.
Andrew Izzo (53 days ago)
We came here right after the Colosseum. It’s a short walk. Lots of beautiful architecture and artifacts to see. Lots of great history to experience. Beautiful views from some of the terraces.
quentin ng (54 days ago)
Truly enjoyed it. Although it was very hot, the experience made it pleasurable. The hike to Palatine Hill was amazing at the peak, overseeing the Roman forum.
Alper Öner (2 months ago)
One of the important places to visit to understand Roman history. We bought it together with the Colosseum tour. After the Colosseum exit, we were able to enter the Forum without waiting in long lines thanks to the tickets we bought in advance. I definitely recommend that you buy your tickets in advance because the entrance lines are very long. It will save you at least 30 minutes. You will find important works of Roman history inside in a preserved way. I recommend that you visit with a professional guide. Just the ruins alone will not be very meaningful. I recommend that you spend at least half a day for the Colosseum and Forum tour. I think it is better in the morning. There will be fewer crowds and less sun in the summer.
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