Fori Imperiali (Imperial Forums), Rome

Fori Imperiali (Imperial Forums), Rome

The Imperial Forums is an extraordinary architectural complex that is central to understanding the grandeur of the Roman Empire. It represents a series of public squares, constructed over a period of about 150 years, that served as the political, religious, and social heart of ancient Rome.

The Imperial Forums consists of a series of monumental forums, or public squares, that were constructed by various Roman emperors from the end of the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 2nd century AD. These include the Forum of Caesar, the Forum of Augustus, the Transitorium of Nero, the Forum of Vespasian (also known as the Temple of Peace), the Forum of Nerva, and the most grandiose of all, the Forum of Trajan.

Each forum was designed to both serve practical needs such as public administration, justice, and commerce, as well as to provide a magnificent setting for the emperors to display their power and prestige. The forums were adorned with grand temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches, and embellished with statues and monuments that glorified the emperors and their deeds.

The Imperial Forums is an archaeological treasure trove, offering a wealth of insights into the politics, religion, and societal structures of the ancient Roman world. Even in their ruined state, the scale and complexity of the buildings and structures are awe-inspiring.

During the 1930s, Mussolini restored the Imperial Forums in an effort to evoke and emulate the past glories of Ancient Rome. He also built a road crossing through the site, supposedly in a bid to make the Colosseum visible from his office window.

Today, the Imperial Forums is a significant archaeological site, attracting tourists and scholars from around the world. Although only a fraction of the original structures remains, the ruins of the Imperial Forums still convey the scale and grandeur of the ancient city.

Why You Should Visit:
Lined with remnants of the once magnificent ancient buildings, the last few years the avenue has been made traffic-free, so walking on it, with just a little imagination, will give one a pretty good sense of Ancient Rome's grandeur and magnitude.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rome. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Fori Imperiali (Imperial Forums) on Map

Sight Name: Fori Imperiali (Imperial Forums)
Sight Location: Rome, Italy (See walking tours in Rome)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Rome, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Rome

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Creating your own self-guided walk in Rome is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Hidden Art Treasures in Rome

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Rome is one of the world's top living museums, replete with some of the most iconic pieces of art on the face of the planet. Famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, to mention but a few, had lived and worked here and left indelible marks in the city.

Needless to say that the abundance of masterpieces makes Rome crowded with tourists anxious to see them, causing...  view more

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Rome Shopping Streets Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Food Tasting Walking Tour

Food Tasting Walking Tour

Whether it’s a long lunch or a stop-off for an ice cream on an evening stroll, eating in Rome is a very social activity. Culinary traditions run deep here, and it may well be one of Italy’s most pleasurable cities in which to eat. Deli shops, prosciutterias, pizzerias, fornos (bakeries) and caffès are also very popular and offer a great alternative to a restaurant meal.

On this...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Trastevere Walking Tour

Trastevere Walking Tour

Heading down from the Vatican along the River Tiber, one is bound to find yet another city hidden within the city – Trastevere. This name translates literally to "across the Tiber". Indeed, crossing the picturesque Ponte Sisto (Sisto Bridge) to the west bank, you will find yourself in a charming neighborhood with a distinct character that sets it apart from any other part of Rome.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Roman Forum and Imperial Forums Walking Tour

Roman Forum and Imperial Forums Walking Tour

It's a known fact that "Rome wasn't built in a day." But when it was finally built, it stood the test of time and became "the eternal city." Many have heard that "all roads lead to Rome," but very few probably realize that inside Rome itself all roads lead to the Forum.

The central hub of ancient Rome, the Roman Forum (also known by its Latin name...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain

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An established tourist mecca, today's Rome is hardly imaginable without two of its much loved attractions – the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Magnets for tourists as they are, these two sights are connected to a number of other, not less worthy of attention locations, such as the Fountain of the Longboat or Piazza Colonna and its centerpiece, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, to...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

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