At the end of the Republican period, the Roman Forum no longer met the demands of the social and political life of the city. The Forum was renewed, basilicas were built and buildings where trials were held. The emperors constantly renewed old buildings and erected new temples and monuments.
Curia
The Curia building, where the Roman Senate met, was laid out under Julius Caesar in the 40s BC. The building burned repeatedly, and in 630 Honorius I converted it into the Church of St Hadrian, which was also destroyed. The Curia is a rectangular building with four huge pylons at the corners, acting as buttresses and running on the same axis as the facades. On the side of the main facade there is a door and three large window openings to illuminate the hall. The roof is made of wood.
Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina overlooks the Via Sacra. The temple, erected in 141, has survived in a state of good preservation thanks to the fact that in the early Middle Ages the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda was built into its structure. At present, the temple is accessed by a staircase with a brick altar in the centre. The pronaos, which precedes the entrance to the temple, is formed by Corinthian columns of veined marble - six on the façade and two on each side. Some of the columns are engraved with images of deities; the frieze has griffins and plant motifs.
Via Sacra
Many ancient sources give a variety of information about the Via Sacra, but its original route has not yet been established, and it has undergone great changes due to the development of urban planning. There are also many versions interpreting the name "Sacred". Thus, Varron explains it by the fact that this road was used by religious processions; Festius allows this interpretation, but adds to it a mythological episode telling about the conclusion of the sacred union between Romulus and Titus Tacius, which allegedly took place here. In all probability the name is due to the fact that there were many ancient places of worship and structures along the road.
Other structures of the Roman Forum
Three massive cylindrical vaults are all that remains of the huge Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius. Like the other basilicas of the Forum, it was used for trials and commercial affairs.
The Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus was erected in 203 to commemorate a decade of the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. The Arch of Titus was built under Emperor Domitian in 81 to commemorate the sacking of Jerusalem by his father Vespasian and brother Titus 13 years earlier.
The House of the Vestals was home to the priestesses of Vesta. This huge complex of 50 rooms was once connected to the Temple of Vesta nearby. In the temple, the priestesses kept the fire, which was a symbol of the city's eternity.
On a side note
- Location: Via della Salaria Vecchia, 5/6, Rome.
- Nearest metro stations: "Colosseo", "Eur Fermi".
- Opening hours: daily in March 8.30-17.00, from April to September 8.30-19.15, in September 8.30-19.00, in October 8.30-18.30, from November to March 8.30-16.30..
- Tickets: adults 12 euros, children under 18 free.
