The Roman Forum was the beating heart of ancient Rome. Between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, senators debated, priests offered sacrifices and merchants struck deals. Exploring the Forum can feel overwhelming, so focus on these standouts:
- Temple of Saturn: One of Rome’s oldest temples (c. 498 BC); eight Ionic columns survive. It once housed the state treasury.
- Arch of Septimius Severus: A triumphal arch from AD 203 depicting reliefs of the Parthian campaigns.
- Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine: The largest building in the Forum; its cavernous interior hosted legal proceedings.
- Temple of Antoninus and Faustina: Later converted into a church, its Corinthian columns dominate the eastern end.
- Curia Julia: Julius Caesar’s senate house completed by Augustus.
- Rostra: The speakers’ platform from which Cicero and others addressed the masses.
- Temple of Vesta: Circular temple where Vestal Virgins guarded Rome’s sacred fire.
- Temple of Castor and Pollux: Only three columns remain; it commemorated twin gods Castor and Pollux.
- Via Sacra: Rome’s main ceremonial street linking the Colosseum to the Capitoline hill.
The Forum rewards context. If you are pairing it with the Colosseum, leave enough time for both rather than rushing through the ruins at the end of the day.