Description of the attraction
At the end of the republican period, the Roman Forum no longer met the requirements of the city's social and political life. The forum was renewed, basilicas and buildings where the trials took place were built. The emperors constantly renewed old buildings and erected new temples and monuments.
Curia
The building of the Curia, where the meetings of the Roman Senate were held, was laid down under Julius Caesar in the 40s BC. The building burned several times, and in 630 Honorius I transformed it into the Church of St. Adrian, which was also destroyed. The Curia is a rectangular building with four huge pylons in the corners that act as buttresses and run along the same axis with the facades. On the side of the main façade, 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 building of the temple, erected in 141, has come down to us in a state of good preservation due to the fact that in the early Middle Ages the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda was built into its structure. Currently, a staircase with a brick altar in the center leads to the temple. Pronaos, preceding the entrance to the temple, is formed by Corinthian columns of marble with veins - six along the facade and two on the side. Some of the columns are engraved with images of deities; on the frieze - griffins and plant motifs.
Via Sacra
Many ancient sources provide a wide variety of information about Via Sacra, but its original route has not yet been established, moreover, it has undergone major changes in connection with the development of urban planning. There are also many versions interpreting the name "Sacred". So, Varro explains it by the fact that religious processions passed along this road; Festius allows such an interpretation, but adds to it a mythological episode telling about the conclusion of a sacred alliance between Romulus and Titus Tatius, which allegedly took place here. In all likelihood, this name is due to the fact that many ancient places of worship and structures were located along the road.
Other structures of the Roman Forum
Three massive cylindrical vaults are all that remain of the enormous Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius. Like the other basilicas of the Forum, it was used for litigation and commercial affairs.
The Arc de Triomphe of Septimius Severus was erected in 203 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. The Arch of Titus was built during the reign of Emperor Domitian in 81 to commemorate the sack of Jerusalem by his father Vespasian and brother Titus 13 years earlier.
The priestesses of Vesta lived in the House of the Vestals. This huge complex of 50 rooms was once connected to the nearby Vesta Temple. In the temple, the priestesses kept the fire, which was a symbol of the eternity of the city.
On a note
- Location: Via della Salaria Vecchia, 5/6, Rome
- The nearest metro stations are "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.
