Roman Forum, Rome

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It was getting dark when we got to Forum Romanum. When we were quite near the place we met a Polish couple who were jus leaving. They heard us speaking Polish and aapproached us saying that we'd never believe who they'd just seen visiting the place. True, I wouldn't believe it but I saw it with my own eyes and I even managed to sneak a picture. Have you ever heard of Andrzej Lepper, the (in)famous minister of agriculture in Poland at that time? Well, that's the guy we saw. He was stranding with a group of other official-looking men (there was only one woman), listening to the guide talking about the history of this place (I've got it in the other pic). That's probably how I will remember Forum Romanum for the rest of my life: with the figure of Andrzej Lepper in the foreground.

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In the shadows of the Colosseum and at the base of Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum is in many ways the heart of ancient Rome. Walking the ruins and climbing Palatine Hill is a quintessential Roman experience.

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To properly appreciate the Roman Forum it requires patience and imagination. Too many tourists just zoom through the ruin and snap a few pictures and then move on. Take your time and make it a point to sit down in different places around the forum and try to envision what it may have looked like in its time. One good tip would be to pick up a guide book that has a map of the forum that shows how it is now and what it would of looked like back in the day. Walking through the Roman Forum is like taking a trip back in time, so, no pun intended, take your time and enjoy the wonder of it all!

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To the right from Coliseum you’ll find all the ruins and buildings from the Roman Empire, the Forum Romanum. Unfortunately I’m not a big expert on this area, as I’ve only stayed at the big street and watched them from there.
For me, therefore, Coloseum is much bigger and more important to see. But for sure I’ve missed something, and am wrong again… ;)
Forum Romanum was anyway the politic, commercial and religious centre, but has during the years been ravished by wars, fights and invaders.

UPDATE december 2007: Have been going through the Forum a couple of times now, and can't really stand for the text above anymore. :)
Be sure to read about the zone in a guide book before you go there though, and feel free to bring it with you while walking around too! Otherwise you'll miss the big part of it, as you won't know what you're looking at.

Don't forget to look down on the ruins from the Capitolium hill, as it gives you a nice view of the former Roman center.

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One of the few things I reckon it helps to have a guided tour of. It really gets the information across.

Too much to describe properly here - buy a good guide book and swot up.

You do get a palpable sense of treading in the footsteps of the Romans (famous or not) as yo wander round.

Like everything else, it can be busy. Early morning in December seems to be best!

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I think every visitor in Rome must at least briefly visit Forum Romanum. How wouldn't be interested to see the area where ancient Rome and the whole culture, later empire, once started?

There are unbelieavably many things, buildings or parts of them and ruins left. It is just unbeliavable to think how old they are (again a lot older than 2000 years...).

See the Wikipedia page "Roman Forum Rome" for very detailed description, links and even a map of the area from year AD 100!

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The Roman forum is a big crowd puller. And rightly so - The land was originally a marsh but the Romans drained it to build their political and social centre. Built between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills, the forum rapidly expanded with triumphal arches, temples and a senate house.
The travertine paths, laid in the time of Augustus Caeser, can still be seen today.

The Roman Forum is jumbled with temples, basilicas and other buildings spanning back 1,100 years.

This is a wonderful place to wander.

Open Hours
9am-6.30pm Mon-Sat; 9am-1pm Sun. Holiday and winter hours vary