The Roman Forum, nestling in the valley between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills, was the veritable epicentre of the entire Roman Empire, which spanned some 6.5 million square kilometres in its heyday. The ruins that make up this compact yet revealing site provide a magnificent insight into what life in ancient Rome must have been like, and by exploring these crumbling remains you’ll be able to get a pretty good idea of how the citizens lived.Although there is a wealth of fascinating things to see, information on the buildings within the complex is sadly lacking, so an audio guide (available from a booth at the Arch of Titus) is the most economical way of finding out more. Buy a combined ticket for the Roman Forum, Colosseum and Palatine Hill, which will give you two days to explore all three attractions at your leisure.The oldest sections of the forum are situated in the north-west and include the Temple of Saturn (497 B.C.), which lies at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. Then during the Republican period many more buildings were added including the awe-inspiring marble Arch of Septimius Severus, constructed in 203 A.D. in celebration of the emperor’s victorious campaign against the Parthians. Other buildings on the site that shouldn’t be missed include the Temple of Vesta and Church of Santi Luca e Martina both dating from the 7th century B.C. and the 1st century Arch of Titus.The forum closes at 6 p.m. during the summer and at 1 p.m. on Sundays, but be sure to take plenty of refreshments and a hat, as there is little or no shelter from the sun. You will most likely want to spend the entire day wandering around the fascinating ruins so prepare ahead and plan some sort of route or itinerary, consulting a guide if necessary. Entrances to the site are on Via dei Fori Imperiali and Via San Gregorio.
The forum is in the centre of Rome and is easily accessible by bus, Metro or on foot. The nearest Metro station is Colosseo is close by.
