Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

The Roman Forum occupies a valley between the Palatine and Capitoline hills that was once marshland. It was drained in the late seventh century BC and became the political, religious and commercial heart of the city for more than a thousand years. Triumphal processions passed along the Via Sacra, senators met in the Curia, and temples, basilicas and monuments were added by successive generations, so what survives today is a layered landscape of ruins from many centuries.

Highlights on the valley floor include the Arch of Septimius Severus, the brick Curia Julia, the remaining columns of the Temple of Saturn, the circular Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestal Virgins with its courtyard of statues. Towards the Colosseum end, the massive vaults of the Basilica of Maxentius give a sense of the scale of imperial building, and the Arch of Titus records the sack of Jerusalem. The church of Santa Maria Antiqua holds rare early medieval frescoes and is worth seeking out.

The Palatine Hill rises above the Forum. According to legend this is where Romulus founded the city, and it later became the site of the imperial palaces, whose ruins spread across the hilltop alongside gardens. From the terraces of the Farnese Gardens you can look down over the Forum towards the Capitoline. The Palatine is generally less crowded than the Forum, and its trees offer some shade.

The Forum and Palatine are covered by the same tickets as the Colosseum, and the standard 24-hour ticket includes one entry to the archaeological area. Some tickets also include the SUPER sites, special monuments with limited access. Opening hours follow the season, closing earlier in winter, and entry is free on the first Sunday of each month. There are toilets, a bookshop and accessible routes in parts of the site, but much of the ground is uneven and the paths are steep in places.

Allow at least two to three hours to see both areas properly. A map, audio guide or guided tour makes the ruins much easier to understand, as many buildings survive only as foundations. Bring water, sun protection and sturdy shoes. One entrance is at Largo della Salara Vecchia on Via dei Fori Imperiali, a short walk from Colosseo metro station, and the Capitoline Museums are just above the western end.