Ok so let’s take a plane or ride or train and follow the road to Rome! Eternal Rome is loaded with goodies not only food but monuments even if a bit old they remind us of who we are in many cases, real stories. I have been lucky to have visited the country several times and Rome of course with family vacations.
I have written many posts on Italy and of course Rome but need to do justice to one area even if the pictures are not too many or not show and tell types. I need to tell you about the Foro Romano or Roman forum of Rome.
The Roman Forum , also called Forum Magnum or Forum Vetus (old forum), is located in the most important archaeological site of Rome, between the Capitol hills, and the Palatine Hill. The Forum was the main square of ancient Rome. The place of the Forum was first arranged in 616 BC or shortly thereafter, simply covered with clay. From this time onwards, the Forum is no longer a peripheral zone to the villages but becomes the central place of the surrounding villages. The part of the Forum closer to the Capitol, the public part, is first divided into two distinct sections: to the north, at the foot of the Arx, the Comitium becomes the political and judicial center of the city, while the commercial activities are concentrated in the south, on the Forum itself. A third section appears with the construction of the regia, near the Temple of Vesta, which constitutes the religious area.
A bit further on its history I like
In 509 BC, the monarchy was abolished, leaving room for the Roman Republic. On each invasion each time, the new paving is based on the old one, resulting in an elevation of the soil. Some of the oldest sanctuaries, such as Lapis Niger or Lacus Curtius, are found in the basement before being covered because of the high difference of its level. At the beginning of the 1C BC.,Sylla closed the prospect to the west by constructing on the slopes of the Capitol the great façade of the Tabularium. With the Sempronia and Aemilia basilicas on the sides, the Forum becomes a closed place. This tendency to make the monumental square is further strengthened with the urban projects of Caesar and Augustus at the end of the 1C BC. and the beginning of the 1C AD. Under the Empire, on both sides of the temple are elevated triumphal arches that serve as monumental entrances for who accesses the Forum from Via Sacra or the Vicus Vestae. The Forum then adopts its definitive form, that of a closed quadrilateral on its four sides, surrounded on two sides by porting ,those of the basilicas of Julia and Aemilia, and closed on the other two by a temple.
During the early Middle Ages, the Forum was progressively abandoned from the 7C onwards. The return of Pope Urban V to Rome from Avignon in 1367 leads to a revival of interest in the ruins of the Forum. The Forum is then slowly stripped of its last columns and statues that are destroyed in lime kilns in order to recover the marble. The Roman Forum, which has long been invaded by grass and where cattle herds are allowed to graze, is now known under the name of Campo Vaccino (Bovine field) , until the excavations conducted under Napoleon III. The Roman Forum gradually developed throughout almost a Millennium !
Some of the merry go round you can do in the Roman Forum are
As of the end of the Empire, arriving from Via Sacra, one follows first the great Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine then the Temple of Romulus and the Temple of Antonin and Faustina that faces the Regia. We then pass under one of the two arches of Augustus which covers the narrow passage between the Temple of Caesar on the left and the Basilica Aemilia on the right. At the end of the portico of the Basilica Aemilia starts to the right the Argiletum which crosses first the Transitorium forum before sinking into Subure. The way is bounded on the other side of the Basilica by the Julia Curia, whose orientation is slightly different. Further on, the Mamertine prison is built on the slopes of the Arx Hill at the top of which is accessed by a long staircase that starts between the prison and the Temple of Concord. In front is the three arches of Septime Severa. Turning left behind the arches, we follow the Clivus Capitolinus which allows access to the terrace of the Capitol. On the right, the slope of the Hill is occupied by the Temple of Concord and the Temple of Vespasian which hides the basement of the large façade of the Tabularium. The Clivus Capitolinus shrinks to pass between the Temple of Vespasian then the portico of the gods counselors and the Temple of Saturn.Arriving at the height of the high podium of the Temple of Saturn, turn left to pass between the Rostres and the Basilica Julia. The path is bounded on one side by the portico of the Basilica and on the other by the succession of seven great honorary columns. Arriving at the end of the portico, a street, the Vicus Tuscus opens to the right and descends towards the Tiber river passing through the Velabrum. In front, a second Arch of Augustus marks a second entrance to the Forum, between the grandstand preceding the Temple of the Dioscuri and the Temple of Caesar. After crossing this arch, we are located near the shrine of Vesta, at the foot of the Palatine.
Some webpages to help you plan your trip here and it is a must while in Rome are
Colisseum webpage on the Roman Forum in English
Rome webpage with info on the Roman Forum
Tourist office of Rome on the Roman Forum in English
There you go another gem of Rome ,Italy. We love it to walk around the Roman Forum and this whole complex even on its outside perimeter so much nice architecture and history around you and couple with some nice eateries and shops ,superb. Hope you enjoy the brief tour.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 