Fori Imperiali
Explore the Imperial Forums on a Vespa: an unforgettable tour among the ancient ruins of Rome, or take a relaxing bike tour with your friends and if you want maximum comfort for an eco-friendly tour rent a comfortable tuk tuk for you and your family it will be a unique experience.
What you need to know about the Imperial Forums
The Roman Forum and Imperial Fora are among the most fascinating archaeological sites in Rome, located in the heart of the ancient city and testifying to the political, religious, and commercial importance of ancient Rome.
Roman Forum: The Roman Forum was the nerve center of public and religious life in ancient Rome. The main political, social and economic activities took place here. Among the most significant monuments are: The Temple of Saturn: one of the oldest in the Forum, a symbol of the Republic’s wealth. The Arch of Septimius Severus: erected to celebrate the victories of Emperor Septimius Severus in the East. The Basilica of Maxentius: an imposing structure dedicated to legal and administrative functions.
Imperial Forums: Imperial Forums are a series of monumental plazas built by emperors to celebrate their power and the greatness of the Empire. Each of these forums was dedicated to an emperor and reflected his or her personal style and military achievements: Forum of Caesar: commissioned by Julius Caesar to extend the Roman Forum, it included the Temple of Venus Genetrix. Forum of Augustus: designed to celebrate Augustus’ military victories, with the Temple of Mars Ultor. Forum of Nerva: a link between the various forums, dedicated to the goddess Minerva. Forum of Trajan: the grandest, with the famous Trajan Column celebrating the military campaigns in Dacia. These forums represent not only the military might of the Empire, but also the role of the emperors as protectors and guardians of Rome. The Imperial Forums site offers a unique journey through time, showing the evolution of Roman architecture and power through the centuries.
Roman Forum: Origins and Evolution: The Roman Forum has a history dating back to the 7th century BC. Initially, it was a swamp, but it was reclaimed and transformed into the center of public life. Over time, it was enriched with temples, basilicas and monuments. Some highlights: Temple of Vesta: the oldest, dedicated to the goddess Vesta. Here burned the sacred fire that the Vestals, virgin priestesses, kept burning for the protection of Rome. Curia Julia: the seat of the Roman Senate. Restored by Caesar, it became the meeting place for senators and important decisions that governed the Empire. Rostra: the platform from which orators addressed the people, one of the symbolic elements of Roman public power.
Imperial Forums: Meaning and Functions: As the emperors grew in power, they wanted to leave a lasting imprint with the Imperial Forums, a symbol of the empire’s greatness. Each is unique and possesses specific architectural and iconographic features.
Forum of Caesar (46 B.C.): It was the first of the imperial forums, built to celebrate the figure of Julius Caesar and to relieve pressure on the Roman Forum. It was a porticoed square with the Temple of Venus Genetrix, patroness of the gens Iulia, in the center.
Forum of Augustus (2 BC): Augustus, the first emperor, built this forum with a specific political intention: to emphasize the connection with Mars, the god of war. The Temple of Mars Ultor (“Avenger”) was surrounded by statues of Rome’s heroes and Augustus’ ancestors, showing the importance of the dynasty and military virtue.
Forum of Nerva (97 AD): Also known as the Transitional Forum, it served as a link between the existing forums. The Temple of Minerva celebrated the goddess of wisdom and just war, and was embellished with columns and bas-reliefs extolling divine protection over Rome.
Forum of Trajan (112 AD): This is the most impressive forum and reflects the pinnacle of imperial Roman architecture. The Trajan Column, 30 meters high and decorated with reliefs recounting Trajan’s campaigns against the Dacians, is one of the wonders still visible today. The forum was a place of public meetings, libraries and markets, embellished with statues and marble decorations.
Decline and Rediscovery With the decline of the Empire, the Roman Forum and Imperial Fora suffered a long period of neglect and were partly covered by debris. During the Middle Ages, the area was used for agriculture, so much so that it earned the name “Campo Vaccino” (cow field). It was not until the Renaissance, with interest in classical antiquities, that the first excavations began, but it was during the Fascist period that the area was brought to light more extensively, allowing archaeologists to better understand the structure of ancient Rome.
Visit Today Visiting the Roman Forum and Imperial Fora is a unique experience: walking through the ruins allows us to imagine the life of the ancient Romans. Every year, archaeologists continue to make discoveries that add new details to our understanding of these places. Excavations are still ongoing, and sometimes new areas are opened to the public to show lesser-known but equally fascinating sections of these historic sites.
Curiosities
The Legend of the Roman Forum as Gateway to the Underworld: According to a medieval legend, Lacus Curtius, an ancient hollow in the Roman Forum, is said to have been a “gateway to the Underworld.” Myth has it that, to appease a terrible omen, a young knight named Marcus Curtius allegedly threw himself into the lake, sacrificing himself to save Rome. This story helped give the place an aura of mystery and sacredness.
Caesar’s Forum and Gladiatorial Games: In Caesar’s Forum, performances, including gladiatorial shows, were held at festivals and celebrations. Although gladiatorial fights were associated with the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum), it is known that the earliest such spectacles were organized in the forums themselves.
The Temple of Venus and Rome: An Ambitious Project of Hadrian: Emperor Hadrian built the Temple of Venus and Rome in the Imperial Forums, considered the largest temple of ancient Rome. Hadrian himself contributed to the architectural design, but the famous architect Apollodorus of Damascus is said to have criticized his designs. Hadrian, known for his proud nature, would not have taken these criticisms well and is said to have exiled (or, according to some versions, sentenced to death) Apollodorus.
The Arch of Titus: Symbol of Victory and Persecution: The Arch of Titus, located near the Roman Forum, celebrates Titus’ victory over Jerusalem in 70 CE. Depicted on the arch is a triumphal procession carrying the spoils of war, including the Menorah (Jewish candelabra), the symbol of the Jerusalem Temple. For centuries, Rome’s Jewish community avoided passing under it because of the sad memory associated with the siege and destruction of Jerusalem.
Trajan’s Column as a “Visual Newspaper: The Trajan Column, located in the Forum of Trajan, is decorated with a spiral frieze about 200 meters long that visually recounts the emperor’s military campaigns against the Dacians. It is considered a “newspaper” carved in stone, with incredible details showing military episodes and scenes of daily life. It is so detailed that it has been used by modern historians to understand the military equipment and tactics of the time.
The Basilica of Maxentius and the Origins of the Pantheon Dome: The Basilica of Maxentius, an imposing structure in the Roman Forum, contains one of the largest domes ever built by the Romans. However, its construction influenced other famous works, such as the Pantheon, known for its gigantic dome. The basilica demonstrates the engineering skills of the Romans and their desire to create monumental buildings to reflect the power of the Empire.
The Road that Destroyed the Forums: During the Fascist period, Mussolini had the Via dei Fori Imperiali built to connect the Colosseum to Piazza Venezia. This road, however, crossed and destroyed important archaeological remains and cut the Imperial Fora in two. It was a very controversial decision and even today there are debates about whether the road should be removed to restore the area to its former appearance.
The Column of Phocas and the Mystery of the Last Construction: The Column of Phocas, located in the Roman Forum, is the last monument built in the ancient area, erected in 608 AD in honor of the Byzantine emperor Phocas. This column, though simple, marks the end of an era, as no more Roman monuments were built after it, and the area gradually fell into oblivion.
These anecdotes make the Roman Forum and Imperial Fora even more fascinating, showing not only their historical value but also the role they have played in the legends and collective memory of the eternal city.
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