ROMAN FORUM
The valley of the Forum among the seven hills of Rome was originally a swamp. From the late 7th century BC after the reclamation of the swamp in the valley, the Roman Forum was built, which was the center of Roman public life for over a millennium.
Over the centuries, various monuments were built: initially buildings for political, religious, and commercial activities, then during the 2nd century BC the civil basilicas, where judicial activities were carried out.
At the end of the republican age, the ancient Roman Forum was no longer sufficient and adequate to serve as the administrative and representative center of the city. The various dynasties of emperors only added prestigious monuments: the Temple of Vespasian and Titus and that of Antoninus Pius and Faustina dedicated to the memory of the deified emperors, the monumental Arch of Septimius Severus, built at the western end of the square in 203 AD to celebrate the emperor’s victories over the Parthians.
The last major intervention was made by Emperor Maxentius in the early 4th century AD. Maxentius built the Temple dedicated to the memory of his son Romulus and the imposing Basilica on the Velia, which was renovated at the end of the 4th century AD. The last monument built in the Forum was the Column erected in 608 AD in honor of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas.
PALATINE HILL
According to ancient tradition, the first settlement of the city of Rome stood on the Palatine, founded by Romulus around the mid-8th century BC. Excavations have uncovered remains of huts and Iron Age tombs and, recently, the oldest fortification, dating back to the 8th century BC.
Seat of important civic cults, including that of the Magna Mater (Cybele), between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, the hill became the residential district of the Roman aristocracy. From this period dates the House of the Griffins, famous for its paintings. Here are the private houses of Augustus and Livia.
Emperor Augustus made the Palatine the official seat of power and began the construction of imperial palaces, later renovated and expanded by his successors. In the area of the Palace of the Caesars is the Palatine Museum, where the furnishings of Iron Age tombs and works from the residences of emperors are exhibited, including the paintings of the Aula Isiaca.
Tickets:
Ticket offices: Largo Salara Vecchia and Via di S. Gregorio, 30
Colosseum/Palatine/Roman Forum: single ticket
Full price € 12.00
Reduced € 7.50 for European Union citizens between 18 and 24 years old and for European Union teachers;
Free: visitors under 18 years of age from the EU.
*Entrance:
Opening hours: 8:30 AM
Closing hours:
Autumn/Winter
from the last Sunday of October to February 15: last entry at 3:30 PM with exit at 4:30 PM;
from February 16 to March 15: last entry at 4:00 PM with exit at 5:00 PM;
from March 16 to the last Saturday of March: last entry at 4:30 PM with exit at 5:30 PM
Spring/Summer
from the last Sunday of March to August 31: last entry at 6:15 PM with exit at 7:15 PM;
from September 1 to September 30: last entry at 6:00 PM with exit at 7:00 PM;
from October 1 to the last Saturday of October: last entry at 5:30 PM with exit at 6:30 PM
Closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25
House of Augustus – House of Livia
Open to the public every day, with limited entry, for groups of 20 people with their own guide or with a guide from the Coopculture company. The visit must be booked through the Coopculture company which manages the information and booking service on behalf of this Superintendent at the phone number (+39) 06 39967700 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM) or on the website www.coopculture.it.
Severan Arcades on the Palatine
Open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays according to the following schedule:
from February 16 to March 15: from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
from March 16 to the last Saturday of March: from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
from the last Sunday of March to August 31: from 8:30 AM to 6:45 PM
from September 1 to September 30: from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
from October 1 to the last Saturday of October: from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
from the last Sunday of October to February 15: from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
House of the Vestals
Temple of Venus and Rome
Palatine Museum
are open every day but are similarly closed 30 minutes before the archaeological area closes.
Please note that in extraordinary situations of reduced staff, it may happen that the area remains closed on scheduled opening days
Accessibility
Access to the Roman Forum area can be made:
• from the entrance at Largo della Salaria Vecchia no. 6, along Via dei Fori Imperiali,
with an elevator to overcome the height difference of about 6.50 meters between street level and the Roman Forum.
• from the elevator located at the Arch of Titus.
Suitable restrooms are available.
info 06. 699841
