Visiting the Roman Forum

Visiting the Roman Forum

Visiting the Roman Forum
The Forum was the centre of political, commercial and judicial life in ancient Rome. The largest buildings were the basilicas, where legal cases were heard. According to the playwright Plautus, the area teemed with “lawyers and litigants, bankers and brokers, shopkeepers and strumpets, good-for-nothings waiting for a tip from the rich”. As Rome’s population boomed, the Forum became too small. In 46 BC Julius Caesar built a new one, setting a precedent that was followed by emperors from Augustus to Trajan. As well as the Imperial Fora, emperors also erected triumphal arches to themselves, and just to the east Vespasian built the Colosseum, centre of entertainment after the business of the day.

A TOUR OF THE ROMAN FORUM - WEST: to appreciate the layout of the Forum before visiting its confusing patchwork of ruined temples and basilicas, it is best to view the whole area from above, from the back of the Capitol. From there you can make out the Via Sacra (the Sacred Way), the route followed through the Forum by religious and triumphal processions towards the Capitol. Up until the 18th century when archaeological excavations began, the Arch of Septimius Severus and the columns of the temple of Sarurn lay half-buried underground. Excavation of the Forum continues, and the ruins uncovered date from many different periods of Roman history.

A TOUR OF THE ROMAN FORUM - EAST: the eastern end of the Roman Forum is dominated by the massive barrel-vaulted ruins of the Basilica of Constantine. To picture the building as it was in the 4th century AD, you must imagine marble columns, floors and statues, and glittering tiles of gilt bronze. The remains of the other important buildings are scanty, though the garden and ponds in the centre of the House of the Vestal Virgins make it a very attractive spot. The two churches in this part of the Forum cannot be reached from within the archaeological area, but are accessible from the road outside.

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Touring Rome

Rome Sightseeing – discover Rome monuments and museums with Italy Travels

Are you planning a trip to Rome? Here below some useful suggestions about what to see and how to organize your time in Rome.

First of all consider that Rome is a big city. Rome offers different cues to tourists. Archeology lovers can find wonderful sites to visit in Rome. Above all, the Colosseum and Imperial Forum area. This amazing zone is located in the heart of Rome. For this reason, tourists can reach it walking along Rome central roads.
At first, people attention is kidnapped by the Colosseum, the huge monument symbol of Rome. Visitors can reserve a ticket to enter the Colosseum by a quick access. In alternative, a Colosseum guided tour could be a very good idea. Colosseum tours are many.
A complete tour is the ancient Rome tour which includes the Colosseum, the Roman Forum as well as a pleasant walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Another possibility is booking a tour which includes the Colosseum with its hypogeum section. This is a shorter visit but very exclusive. Actually the underground section of the Colosseum can be visited only by booking this specific tour. The third possibility is the tour including the Belevedere section of the monument. During this tour, visitors jump up to the fifth ring of the monument, the upper section of the Colosseum. Here the view of the city is really breathtaking.
This important archeological district is also famous for the presence of the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus. Both are triumphal arches. They represent the emblem of the power of an emperor who returned triumphant from a war. These arches are beautifully decorated with bas-reliefs representing the emperor and his war successes.

Not only the Colosseum area but also other archaeological sites are worth to be visited when touring Rome. First the Caracalla Baths, the greatest thermal complex in antique times. Second, the Trajan markets which represent the oldest shopping centre in ancient world. The Trajan Markets are located very close to the Colosseum along the Imperial Forum road.

Similarly tourists should not miss the visit of the Vatican City and its treasures. First of all the Saint Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Basilica is the heart of catholic Church. Every year millions of tourists and pilgrims go to Rome to visit Saint Peter. For this reason the Basilica is always very crowded.
Visitors can enter the Pope's basilica through a reserved entrance booking a guided tour or the audio guide service.
No far from Saint Peter's square, there are the Vatican Museums. The papal museums house an immense art collections amassed by popes during centuries. The Sistine Chapel is part of this museum complex. Therefore visitors have to book the entrance ticket for the Vatican Museums to enter the Sistine and admire Michelangelo's frescoes.

Finally, a must-see tour of the Italian capital is the Baroque Rome tour. The itinerary includes famous roman squares and fountains. Definitely, the most world-known one the Trevi fountain. The tour moves from Piazza Navona, where there is the Four Rivers fountain by Bernini to the Pantheon. As final step, the tourists ends in Piazza di Spagna. Here the Barcaccia fountain and the iconic Spanish step are located.