The heart of social and political life of the republic of Rome: among these walls begun and grew the power of Rome and of the upcoming empire. The archaeological excavations which rediscovered it belong to the years between the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century. It is crossed side to side by the Via Sacra (Sacred Road), which got immortal fame by many literary and theatral classic works and where Romans celebrated the triumphes of their victorious generals.

The main buildings of the Roman Forum are: the Curia, seat of the Senate, the main council of the Republic, rebuilt by Diocletian in III century and which contains the bas-reliefs of Trajan; the Emilia Basilica, built in 170 b.C., place of justice and commerce; the arch of Settimius Severus built in 203 to celebrate the victory upon Parthians; the Temple of Vespasian and Titus, from which they remain only three Corinthian columns; the Temple of Saturn of the IV century b.C. from which remain eight columns; the Julia Basilica, built by Julius Caesar and completed by Octavian Augustus, divided into a nave and 4 aisles, where was the civil court of Justice and the meeting point for commercial transactions; the Temple of Divus Julius, of which remain nowadays few ruins, built on 29 a.C. in memory of Julius Caesar by emperor Augustus, who insituted the divine cult of the emperor; the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Dioscuri twins, whose cult was strong at the time of the first enlargement of Rome around Latium; the Temple of Vesta, with annexed House of Vestals Virgins, who kept always alive the Sacred Fire.

Roman Forum ends at the foot of the Capitol with the triumphal arch of Titus and with the enormous Basilica of Maxentius, where was placed the gigantic statue of Constantine, of which remain some fragments exposed inside the Palace of Conservatori in the Capitol.