| Albergo Ottocento - The Main Monuments in Rome: Foro Romano |
| It can be considered a symbol of
antiquity. It was the center of the civic, juridical and
economic life in Republican times. It can be reached from the
Capitoline hill going down along Senators Building or behind the
monument to king Victor Emmanuel II and walking along Via dei
Fori Imperiali. It was very damaged by the barbaric invasions.
In 1700 the excavations brought out notable treasures of Romanic
art. To the right of its main entrance you can see the ruins of
the Basilica Emilia, erected in 179 B.C. The pavement of the
ancient street, called Argiletum, separates this basilica from
the Curia which was the Forum’s first civic center. Just behind,
you can see the arch of Septimius Severus, built in 203 A.D. and
still almost intact. It consists of three arcades separated by
white columns. Going on there are the Rostra, that is to say,
the tribunes from where Roman Orators spoke. In front of the
Rostra, you can admire the Phocas column, raised in 608 in honor
of the homonymous emperor. Not far, there is the "Via Sacra", so
called because it was crossed by priests during the sacred
ceremonies; it preserves partly the original paving. Along the
street, on the right, there are the Basilica Julia, made under
Caesar, the temple of Saturn and the temple of Dioscuris,
erected in the B.C.. Besides, you can see the temple of Vesta
which has a circular plan and where a perpetual fire, symbol of
eternal Rome, used to burn. In addition, you can notice the
House of Vestals, where the virgins taking care of the fire
lived. Along the "Via Sacra", on the left, there are the temple
of Antoninus and Faustina and the Basilica of Maxentius. The
"Via Sacra" ended near the Arch of Titus. Car: 2.5 km, 4 min Mix: 1 km, 27 min Foot: 2 km, 30 min |
