Back in the Roman Empire times, forums were the heart of the city and the daily life of its citizens. They were big rectangular plazas surrounded by important buildings such as government buildings, temples, and markets. It was here that people used to buy goods, watch public speeches, criminal trials, and gossip around.

Inside the complex, you will be able to see countless roman monuments, some of them are in pieces, but others are relatively well preserved, as it is the case of the Temple of Saturn, the Roman god associated with wealth, it was built in 497 BC and where the reserve of gold and silver of Rome were stored; The House of Vestals, located behind a circular building known as the Temple of Vestals, the house used to be the residence of the Vestals Virgins, venerated priestess; and Arch of Titus, built after the death of Emperor Titus to commemorate the victory over Jerusalem.

The tickets for the Roman Forum are the same as for Palatine Hill and Colosseum, buy it here !

The construction includes a covered market, front shops, and a residential apartment block. The products sold in the market would have come from all parts of the empire and would include fruits, vegetables, fish, wine, etc.

Located nowadays in the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the avenue that links the Colosseum to the Piazza Venezia, it is a complex of buildings known as the Trajan’s Market. It is a well-preserved ruin that despite the name, it was not limited to shops only.

The complex also had gardens and an open area for exercises and games.

Another famous ancient Hippodrome was the Stadio di Domiziano, located in today’s Piazza Navona, it was smaller than the Circus Maximus, however similar in architecture.

The stadium received its name due to the fact it was a gift from Emperor Domitianus. Nowadays, nothing is left from the Hippodrome but the oval shape of the plaza.

It had a capacity for around 30,000 spectators and after fire damage to the Colosseum, the Domiziano Stadium held gladiator shows for a few years.

Another famous landmark in Rome is the Pantheon, the best-preserved ancient building in the city. The Pantheon was originally built in 27 – 25 BCE by Marcus Agrippa, however, the building was destroyed by a fire.

Accordingly to Pliny, a famous Roman author in the 1st century, inside the Pantheon, there were statues of the many Roman gods and famous Roman figures, including a statue of Venus wearing a pearl that was once owned by Cleopatra, Mars and Julius Cesar.

Two other buildings were erected on this same site and the one that resisted until today was built in 125 CE during the reign of emperor Hadrian. Although we can’t assure the real function of the building, it is believed that the Pantheon was used as a sort of temple.

Famous for being the refugees for popes in times of difficulties, as well as a prison and military base, Castel Sant Angelo is nowadays a museum of military history.

What most people don’t know is that the Castel Sant Angelo was actually built much earlier than the Roman Catholic period. It is also known as the Hadrianeum and was erected to and the mausoleum of the emperor Hadrian, later it was used as the burial place for the Antonine emperors and then turned into a fortress.

Buy your ticket here for the Castel Sant Angelo.