A place travelers can visit Roman Forum

Reviews: Roman Forum

General description: Roman Forum

The Roman Forum played an important role in the history of the Roman Empire. Visitors come here to see where it all happened back then.
 
History of the Roman Forum
The Imperial Fora ruled not only Rome, but the entire Roman Empire. The Forum Romanum, originally sacred to the goddess Vesta, developed from a cattle market to a political arena. This is where Cicero gave his incendiary speeches against Catilina, and Cato uttered his famous words "Carthage must be destroyed". Today, mere mortals are once again permitted to stroll between triumphal arches and columns on warm evenings. The nocturnal guided tours are known as "Roma sotto le stele" (Rome beneath the stars). The tour starts at the entrance of the Via dei Fori Imperiali, past the Basilica Aemilia, the Tempio di Faustina, the Tempio di Caseare and the Arco di Augusto across the Via Sacra to the Rostra, the speaker's tribune. To the right is the Lapis Niger, the black stone above Romulus' tomb, then on to the Curia of the Senate, the Arco di Settimo Severo. On the left one can see the Tempio di Saturno and the Basilica Julia, the Law Courts which Caesar had built shortly before his assassination, the square Tempio di Castore e Polluce, and the circular Tempio di Vesta, where the Vestal Virgins, maidens from the leading families, guarded the sacred flame. The tour passes along the Via Sacra, past the house of the Vestal Virgins and the Tempio di Romolo which Maxentius had built for his son who died young, and the Basilica di Massenzio, which was redesigned by Constantine. At the Arco di Tito, the road leads up to the Palatine Hill, where many rich Romans as well as Cicero and Catullus had their villas. Walking through the beautiful 16th century Farnesi Gardens, you arrive back at the Forum.
 
Visiting the Roman Forum
The forum is located right by the Colosseum and many buses stop there. It is also possible to get the Linea B metro. (blue line) to the Colosseum station.

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• The entrance fee is included in the ticket price for the Colosseum and Palatine Hill
• Opening Hours: 9am - 7pm or 1 hr before dark.
  

The night-time guided tours are called "Roma sotto le stelle", Rome under the stars.

Amidst the now ruined temples, arches and basilica, Caesar and Cicero once trod the hallowed ground of the Forum Romanum, the ancient Roman seat of power.

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