The Roman Forum

Between the Capitoline and the Colosseum, the Roman Forum is a vast space bringing together many ruins from the Roman period. To help you make sense of this somewhat chaotic ensemble, we recommend starting the visit from the Capitoline, which will give you an overall view of the ruins and make their outlines clearer. Admission is charged with a combined Colosseum + Palatine ticket.

Getting there: Colosseo metro station or many bus lines

Address: 2 possible entrances:
Via dei Fori Imperiali (roughly halfway along) via the small lane Largo Salara Vecchia.
Via di San Gregorio, 30: this is also the entrance for the Palatine, on the Colosseum side.

Opening hours : open every day except 1 January and 25 December.
From 1 to 25 March: 9:00 – 17:30
From 26 March to 31 August: 9:00 – 19:15
From 1 September to 30 September: 9:00 – 19:00
From 1 to 28 October: 9:00 – 18:30
From 29 October to 31 December: 9:00 – 16:30
Good Friday: closed (a partial opening is possible in some years; check the official website)
Last entry about one hour before closing.

Ticket prices: Combined ticket with the Palatine and the Colosseum: €16 full price, audioguide €4. Free for under-18s, reduced price of €2 for young people aged 18 to 25 who are citizens of the European Union.
Buying tickets online in advance is strongly recommended if you want to get into the Colosseum: Official ticket office

Official website: Archaeological Park website

Situated in a marshy hollow, the area was drained as early as the 6th century BC during the reign of King Tarquinius Priscus. The surrounding hills had gradually been settled, making this inhospitable zone a central place. The first public buildings were then constructed here and the Forum soon became the religious, political and judicial centre of the city of Rome. Here stood, among others, the Senate (Curia), the speakers' platform (Rostra), the Temple of Saturn, of Castor and Pollux, of Concord and several basilicas (with a commercial and judicial role)…

The period of expansion of the Roman Forum was essentially during the Roman Republic, from the end of the Punic Wars (2nd century BC) until Julius Caesar, who decided to build new forums, this one having become too small for Rome, by then the centre of a vast empire. The Roman Forum then became a place glorifying the emperors, with the construction of temples dedicated to them (such as that of the Divine Caesar) and of triumphal arches.

Left abandoned at the fall of the empire, the Roman Forum found itself buried under a thick layer of earth, before unfortunately being used as a stone quarry for the buildings of the city.

Entering the Forum from the Capitoline, you will discover, among other things:

The Arch of Septimius Severus: well preserved, this imposing triumphal arch 23 m wide and 21 m high was built by the Senate and the people of Rome in honour of the 10 years of reign of the emperor Septimius Severus and of his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. On the emperor's death, Caracalla had his brother murdered and erased his name from all the monuments!

The Arch of Septimius Severus is adorned with bas-reliefs recalling the wars waged by the emperor against the Parthians. The best-preserved bas-reliefs are those of the winged Victories with trophies, of Parthian prisoners with Roman soldiers, and of some battle scenes.

After the triumphal arch, on the left, the brick building housed the Curia (Senate). Rebuilt after a fire in the 3rd century, it later housed a church before being restored in the 20th century. Originally the Curia was covered with marble and stucco. The bronze doors are copies; the originals were used at St John Lateran.

Inside are displayed bas-reliefs from the Rostra (speakers' platforms). The generosity of the emperor Trajan is celebrated: the first bas-relief commemorates the creation of a favourable loan and the second the cancellation of tax debts, with the registers burned before the emperor.

Continuing along this road, which is the famous Sacred Way, you will see on the left the remains of the Basilica Aemilia and on the right the three columns, vestiges of the Temple of the Dioscuri.

Further on, on the left, you will find the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. Built in AD 141 and dedicated to the emperor Antoninus and his wife Faustina, this temple was converted into a church in the 11th century, which explains the presence of a portico with Corinthian columns and the church at the rear. The present church dates from 1601 and can be visited.

Opposite stand the Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestals. The cult of Vesta, goddess of fire and purity, was maintained by the Vestals, priestesses who took a vow of chastity but enjoyed many privileges. They had to keep the sacred fire, the symbol of the city. They lived beside the temple in a large palace of which a few rooms and statues remain.

Further on, on the left, the Temple of Romulus (the son of the emperor Maxentius). The great bronze doors framed by porphyry columns date from the 4th century.

Beside the Temple of Romulus you will find the remains of the great Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine. Composed of three gigantic barrel-vaulted halls, it measured 100 metres long and 65 wide!

The Roman Forum ends with the Arch of Titus, the oldest Roman triumphal arch. Built in 81 by the emperor Domitian in honour of his brother Titus and his father Vespasian. It commemorates the victories against the Jews and the capture of Jerusalem. A few fine bas-reliefs survive, such as that showing the Romans carrying the booty from the temple: the seven-branched candlestick, silver trumpets…