The best views in the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is one of the most important attractions in Rome. But it is a mixture of marble fragments, triumphal arches, temple ruins, and other ancient architectural elements from various time periods. This breakdown of some of the Forum’s top attractions stretches from east to west, starting at the Colosseum. See this map of the Roman Forum to get an idea of the layout of the ruins.
Arch of Constantine – This huge triumphal arch is located in the Piazza del Colosseo, just outside the ancient amphitheater. The arch was dedicated to Constantine in AD 315. To commemorate his victory over co-emperor Maxentius at the Milvio Bridge in 312 AD. C.
Via Sacra : many of the Forum’s buildings are distributed along the Via Sacra, the old “sacred” triumphal path.
Temple of Venus and Rome – The largest temple in Rome, dedicated to the goddesses of Venus and Rome, it was built by Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD. C. It is located on a high hill near the entrance of the Forum and is inaccessible to tourists. The best views of the temple ruins are from inside the Colosseum.
Arch of Titus : built in 82 AD. C. to commemorate the victory of Titus over Jerusalem in the year 70 d. C., the arch contains representations of the spoils of the conquest of Rome, including a menorah and an altar. The arch was also restored in 1821 by Giuseppe Valadier; Valadier included an inscription detailing this restoration, as well as a darker travertine marble to differentiate between the ancient and modern parts of the arch.
Basilica of Maxentius – The once gigantic basilica is primarily a shell, of which only the north aisle remains. The emperor Maxentius began the construction of the basilica, but it was Constantine who saw the completion of the basilica. Hence, this building is also known as the Basilica of Constantine. This is where the giant statue of Constantine initially stood, now in the Capitoline Museums. The huge exterior of the basilica is part of a wall that runs the length of Via dei Fori Imperiali. In it are maps showing the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Temple of Vesta – a small shrine for the goddess Vesta, built in the 4th century AD. C. and partially restored at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the sanctuary there was an eternal flame for the goddess of the hearth, Vesta, and the Vestal Virgins who lived next door tended to her.
House of the Vestal Virgins : This space contains the remains of the house of the priestesses who tended to the flame in the Temple of Vesta. Around a couple of rectangular pools are about a dozen statues, many of them headless, representing some of the high priestesses of the Vestal cult.
Temple of Castor and Pollux : the twin sons of the god Jupiter were worshiped from a temple in this place from the 5th century BC. The ruins that remain today date from 6 AD. C.
Temple of Julius Caesar : some ruins of this temple remain, which was built by Augustus to commemorate the place where the body of his great-uncle was cremated.
Basilica Julia : Some stairs, columns and pedestals remain from the great Basilica of Julius Caesar, which was built to house legal documents.
Basilica Aemiia : This building is located just inside one of the entrances to the Forum, at the intersection of Via dei Fori Imperiali and Largo Romolo e Remo. The basilica was built in 179 BC. C. and was used for money loans and as a meeting place for politicians and tax collectors. It was razed by the Ostrogoths during the sack of Rome in 410 AD
Curia : Senators from Rome met at the Curia, one of the first buildings built in the Forum. The original Curia was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and the one standing today is a replica of one built by Domitian in the 3rd century AD. C.
Rostra – Mark Antony delivered the speech that began “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” from this ancient dais after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. C.
Arch of Septimius Severus – This striking triumphal arch at the western end of the Forum was built in 203 AD. C. to commemorate the 10 years of power of the Emperor Septimius Severus.
Temple of Saturn : Eight columns survive from this great temple to the god Saturn, which stands near the Capitoline Hill side of the Forum. Archaeologists believe that a sanctuary for the god existed in this space since the 5th century BC. C., but these iconic ruins date from the 4th century AD. C. The set of three columns that float practically next to the Temple of Saturn are from the Temple of Vespasian.
Phocas Column – Erected in 608 AD in honor of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas, this unique column is one of the last monuments to be placed in the Roman Forum.
Read Part 1: Introduction and history of the Roman Forum
