The Roman Forum

Located in a valley that is between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill, the Roman Forum was the political and economical center of the Roman Republic. Commerce, health services, prostitution, cult, and the administration of justice were all located within the forum. The forum was expanded and included a senate house and law courts. The current arhitecture of the forum is resulted from the changes made by Julius Caesar as pontifex maximus,

The Roman Forum includes a statue of the late Caesar, temples for major deities, basilicas or arches. The forum was often the scene of political quarrels , fights between rival parties which ended with violent fires. Fire was a frequent threat for the construction, the most terrible being recorded in 283 CE. Among the buildings found in the Roman forum, we can find an Altar of Victory in the senate, a Temple of Concord, the imposing Temple of Castor and Pollux, and on the Capitoline, the Temple of Saturn

Most of the buildings in the forum were destroyed during the pillage of the Ostrogoths of Alaric. In the Middle Ages, the forum was forgotten, most of it being buried under debris and was used as a cattle pasture. A major part of the forum was destroyed, only stock blocks and columns remaining from this magnificent construction.

Archeological excavations began in the 18th century  and systematic excavations started in the 20th century. Many of the buildings and monuments have been removed and the site is still subject to excavations, several parts of the construction being not open to visitors.  Admission is free while guide tours in Italian, English, German, French or Spanish cost 3.20 Euro.