IMPERIAL FORUMS

Welcome to the cradle of civilisation

Caesar's Forum - History
The first large square of Imperial Forums (46 bC) was commissioned by Giulio Cesare: incomplete for a long time, it was probably completed by August.
It was built in order to self-celebrate the power of this great emperor: activities in the Caesar's Forum were not commercial. In fact, the Forum was a meeting point and a place where it was possible to discuss about politics and pubblic business.

Caesar's Forum - Description
The square was surrounded by porticoes in its long sides: in the center, there was a temple dedicated to the goddess Venere Genitrice, because Caesar thought to be a descendant of this goddess.
Inside the temple, a lot of artists' masterpieces were saved, as Arkesilaos, the sculptor of Veners' statue, some paintings of Timomaco from Bisanzio, a golden portrait of Clepatra and many others valuable object. The Caesar's Forum was a small museum.

August's Forum - History
After 40 years from the building of the first Forum, August's Forum was inaugurated in 2 b.C. in another square, August's one. In this case too, the function of this Forum was lied to a propagandist purpose, and its decoration is a symbol of the golden age, begun with August's period.
 
August's Forum - Description
The building was perpendicular to the previous Forum. Inside this Forum, August wanted to build a temple dedicated to Mars Ultore (avenger: as August avenged Caesar's homycide), next to a very tall wall, still visible.
This wall divided the monument from the large and populous area of Suburra, under Quirinale's and Viminale's hill.

Peace Forum - History
The Peace Forum, built in 75 a.C., was not meant as an imperial forum at first: also known as Vespasiano's Forum, it celebrates the victory over Jerusalem.Commissioned by the Emperor Vespasiano, the new and large square is divided from other Forums by Via dell'Argileto, and it is known as Peace Forum.
This Forum was destroyed by the fire of 192 a.C. and re-built by Settimio Severo: in this second building, two rooms were added in the south area, next to the corner of the Basilica di Massenzio. They were used, in the IV century a.C, as the site for the building of the Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano.

Peace Forum - Description
The Forum had a quite different shape: it was a square surrounded by porticoes, the temple was at the end of the porticoes. The central area did not have the classic shape of a square, but it was settled as a garden, with pants, water and statues, a kind of open-air museum.
Inside, there were remains of the Jerusalem Temple, among them the famous Menorah(seven-branched candelabrum) and a lot of works of art coming from Greece and Asia Minor and used as decor for the Nero's Domus Aurea.

Nerva's forum - History
Built in 98 a.C., in the area among Caesar's Forum, August's Forum and Peace Temple, the Nerva's Forum take its name from the Domiziano's successor, the real purchaser of the Forum.
the Nerva's Forum is known also as Transitional Forum, because it united Imperial Forums already built and because it accomplished the task of a a pass, replacing Via dell'Argileto.

Nerva's forum - Description
Nerva's forum in built in a long and narrow square , 120 metres x 45, without porticoes, but surrounded by a large colonnade. Its paving was in marble and flint inside, in travertine outside.
The temple dedicated to Minerva was built outside the August's Forum, and the ground around was used as the entrance (Porticus Absidata) to all monuments.

Trajan's Forum - History
Trajan's Forum is the last Forum built, but it is also the largest and the biggest one among Imperial Forums, built between 107 and 112 A.C. 
Trajan, in order to build his own Forum, followed the ambitious projects of Domiziano, which planned to reduce the hill between il Campidoglio and il Quirinale towards Piazza Venezia.

Trajan's Forum - Description
Trajan's Forum is the biggest among Imperial Forums (300 metres x 180), it was made of a rectangular square, which took up the half of the whole Forum. In the south of the Forum, there was a giant equestrian statue representing Trajan. The square is surrounded by porticoes, and in a second period some rooms were added and used as a market place, where Ancient Romans could buy bronze and silver plate.
The place was closed by the Basilica Ulpia: behind it, the Trajan's Column was built, 30 metres high, a great symbol of emperor victories.

Imperial Forums - How to arrive
Imperial Forums are easily accessible from Viale dei Fori Imperiali,a quickly and easily reachable street in the very heart of Rome.
By bus, you can take 175, 84, 85, 87, 810, while the nearest underground station is Colosseo (Metro B)

Imperial Forums - Open time
Every day, except Tuesday, from 9.ooam to 7.oo pm. Info 06.692050630

Things to see in the surroundings
Il Circo Massimo, il Colosseo , la Domus Aurea.

Accommodations in the surroundings
Here are some advice about hotels next to Roma Termini, in the surroundings of Imperial Forums.

Restaurants in the surroundings
After visiting Imperial Forums, you could try a hosteria next to Esquilino's area.

Pubs and entertainment in the surroundings
Here are some advice about pub and entertainment near the Colosseum, where you could spend your free time.

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