Roman Forum

The Roman Forum, or Forum Romanum, was the very centre of ancient Rome. Throughout the lifespan of Roman civilisation the Forum served as the focus of political, civic, and religious life.

Roman Forum history

From magnificent temples and triumphal arches to the very seat of power in the Senate house, the Roman Forum encompassed every aspect of life for the Republic and wider Empire.

For over a millennia its changing nature reflected the constant shifting in the fortunes of the religious, military, and political natures of the Roman world. The Roman Forum witnessed elections, public speeches, criminal trials, social gatherings, and religious ceremonies among many others.

First built in the 7th century BC, the Roman Forum has seen any number of buildings large and small constructed, destroyed, or demolished over the years, with various Roman styles reflected in these changes.

The decline of the Forum occurred around 410 AD with the Fall of Rome, when many of its eminent buildings were destroyed.

Roman Forum today

Today, though much of the grandeur of the Roman Forum has been lost to the ages, it is still a spectacular display of ancient Roman life.

Some of the key structures have survived due to their conversion to Churches or other uses, like the Curia Julia and the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, but others have left just a shadow of their past glories, hinting at the magnificence of a by-gone age. No visit to Rome is complete without a stroll around the Roman Forum and it is a must see for anyone visiting the city.

There are a large number of historic buildings or their remains in the Roman Forum, some of the notable ones are:

• the Temple of Saturn
•  the Arch of Septimius Severus
• the Arch of Titus
• the Atrium Vestae (once home to the Vestal virgins)
• the Gemonian stairs;
• the Curia Julia (once the site of the Roman Senate)
• the Temple of Caesar
• the Regia (where the first kings of Rome lived and later the Pontifex Maximus)
• the Basilica of Maxentius

Alongside a host of other temples: the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Concord, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina (perhaps the best preserved structure in the Roman Forum), the Temple of Venus and Roma.

This site also features as one of our Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Italy.

Getting to the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is located in central Rome, between the Colosseum and Piazza del Campidoglio. The closest Metro stop is Colosseo on line B (blue), a 5-minute walk away, while the nearest bus stop is Fori Imperiali, a 2-minute walk away.

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