PALATINE HILL AND ROMAN FORUM - ROME, ITALY

PALATINE HILL AND ROMAN FORUM

ROME, ITALY

PALATINE HILL AND ROMAN FORUM

PIAZZA SANTA MARIA NOVA 53

00186, ROME ITALY

http://archeoroma.beniculturali.it/en/archaeological-site/roman-forum-and-palatine-hill

Before becoming the political, administrative and religious centre of Rome, the Forum was an inhospitable marshland.  From the late 7th century CE, after the area was drained and reclaimed, several monuments were progressively built on it: first the buildings for political, religious and commercial activities, then, during the 2nd c. BCE, the civilian basilicas, where judicial activities took place.  By the end of the Republican era, the ancient Roman Forum was already fully built up so that only a few monuments were added during the Empire: the Temple of Vespasian, that of Antoninus and Faustina, the monumental Arch of Septimius Severus, the imposing Basilica of Maxentius. The last monument was the column erected in 608 CE in honour of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas.  The Palatine is the hill where, according to tradition, Romulus founded Rome in 754 BCE: the remains of huts confirm in full the details of the legend. The elevated position and the proximity to the Tiber made the Palatine very suitable for the settlement; during the Republican era it became the residential district of the Roman aristocracy.  The Emperor Augustus turned the Palatine into the official seat of power and started the construction of the Imperial Palaces, subsequently enlarged by the Julio-Claudian Emperors and by Nero. Yet it was Domitian who radically transformed the hill, by building atop the previous dwellings the majestic Flavian Palace, designed by the architect Rabirius.  Currently situated within the Palace of the Caesars is the Palatine Museum, where the most important finds of the excavations are on display.  

Travel Tip:  Visit Palatine Hill and Roman Forum as early in the morning as possible to avoid the crowds.  There is a cost to visit these sights and you can wait in line for some time.  Recommend you book a guided tour through Viator.com.  We booked the Skip the Line Private Tour Ancient Rome and Colosseum through Viator.  Had a private guide that shared history, facts and stories of the sights.  This made the day much more interesting and enjoyable.

MARKS THE SITE WHERE CESARE WAS CREMATED

SITE OF CESARE CREMATION