History’s greatest meeting place

The Roman Forum, Rome, Italy

At its peak around the second century AD, the Roman Empire spread across more than five million square kilometres.

Using modern geography, the empire went from Spain and Morocco in the west to Iran in the east. It went from the United Kingdom in the north to Egypt in the south.

Look at a map of Europe and North Africa and then imagine most of it covered by the Romans.

Controlling such a huge area was a difficult task and, as historians know, eventually it became too hard and the empire began to break apart. But there were many centuries when the power of the Senate, the Emperor and the associated bureaucracy successfully governed their land from Rome.

At the centre of it all was the Roman Forum.

The Roman Forum was more than politics, though. It was the teeming heart of the empire and the city. It was where the population gathered to hear orations, take part in processions, watch trials, and vote in elections.

The site was also extremely important for commerce. It served as an enormous market, attracting tens of thousands of visitors, with stalls, shops and taverns throughout the area at different stages in history.

Over time, though, the civic aspects of the forum took over and most of the markets moved to other places in the city where they had more space.

In the Roman Forum, politics, religion and high society created their ultimate meeting place – one of the greatest the world would ever see.

What to see at the Roman Forum

I come in to the Roman Forum from the northeastern entrance after visiting the Colosseum. The Arch of Titus stands tall, greeting me.

It’s a barrier, causing me to pause and consider where I am, yet it is also an invitation to enter. How many people over how many centuries have done the same thing?

Below the arch, stretching out for hundreds of metres ahead of me, is the central thoroughfare of the forum. I walk down the steps and then follow it along to the end.

It’s not a grand avenue these days, more a meandering path that bends through the remains of buildings.

To the right, the Basilica of Maxentius dominates. The three vaults that remain are enormous and they make me feel small down here on the ground. It was built in 308 AD and was the largest building at the time.

As I slowly make my way through, more buildings make me stop and consider perspective.

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, a bit further along on the right, is particularly impressive. It was built in 141 AD but turned into a Catholic church in the seventh century.

Many of the structures just have their foundation or lower walls, like the House of Vestals, which would once have been a three-storey palace with 50 rooms and a central courtyard with a pool.

Or there are the three sad columns that are all that’s really left of the Temple of Castor and Pollux which was used by the Senate as a meeting place sometimes.

At the western end, is the official meeting place of the Senate, the Curia Julia, built in 44 BC by Julius Caesar.

There’s the impressive marble Arch of Septimius Severus, built to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta.

And there is what remains of the great Temple of Saturn, the eight surviving columns that appear so iconic.

I like the view from the western end. From here you get a sense of the scale of the Roman Forum and you can see how the different areas connect together. It’s much easier from this side to imagine the ground bustling with people and impressive buildings all throughout.

And from here, you can also see Palatine Hill.

Palatine Hill

Palatine Hill is not technically a part of the Roman Forum but, from the perspective of a tourist, they are effectively the same site, in that a ticket gives you entry to both and you’ll move between the two without realising exactly where one ends and the other begins.

Palatine Hill is the most central of Rome’s seven hills and, in many ways, it was the centre of Rome’s story.

The hill is at the core of the myth about the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. And, more tangibly, it was where the emperors built their homes from Augustus in 27 BC.

It’s surprisingly peaceful up on the hill and there’s also much more to see than I had expected. The remains of the majestic homes built by emperors are here, as is the enormous hippodrome and stadium.

Further around, the baths and aqueduct are impressive even so many years after they were built. There are also gardens that have been well maintained and have great views over the Roman Forum below.

I’ve said previously that the Colosseum is the best site to visit in Rome and I stand by that.

But I would not argue with anyone who claimed that, actually, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill combination is the best. You do see so much of the history and really start to understand how Ancient Rome may have once looked.

The good news is that the same ticket lets you into all three sites! Have a look in the practical information below to see your options and how to save time and money.