Roman Forum

Also known as Forum Romanum, or Forum Magnum to the Romans, the Roman Forum was once the center of ancient development in Rome, where all transactions related to commerce and business, and even prostitution, would take place. Various cult activities and justice administration was also held in the Forum during those days.

Its flooring used to be just marshy ground, which the Tarquins drained with the Cloaca Maxima. The travertine paving that dates back to the time of Augustus can still be found on the Forum to this day. Tourists flock to this structure for the remains, to see how the Romans made use of the available urban space.

The Roman Forum houses numerous temples, monuments, and ancient ruins, including: Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Jupiter, Temple of Romulus, Temple of Saturn, Temple of Venus and Roma, Basilica Aemilia, Basilica Julia, Arch of Septimius Severus, Arch of Titus, Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, Tabularium.

The Forum Romanum is found in a valley that lies between the Palatine Hill and the Capitoline Hill. It was turned into a cattle field when the Roman Empire fell.

Thankfully, though, many leaders decided to rebuild the structures or at least, preserve them. Pope Urban V from Avignon led the rebuilding trend. Eventually, artists were drawing the ruins in the Forum, and some were copying inscriptions that dated back to the 16th century. But the clearing of the Forum began with Carlo Fea, who cleared the debris from the Arch of Septimius Severus, followed by archeologists from the Napoleonic regime.