Roman Forum, Rome

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The archaeological site known as the Roman Forum (Foro Romano in Italian) was the heart and soul of ancient Rome. Basilicas, temples, comitium, curia, tabularium, regia and rostra not to mention markets and numerous arches were all located here. And it was crawling with people every day of the week. Sound fascinating? Caution is warranted. There’s so much to see it’s easy for small eyes to grow weary. Engage the kids and extend your visit. As you tour the ruins of the Roman Forum help the kids imagine life in ancient Rome. Hold court at the Comitium and decide the life of everyday citizens. Attend a Senate meeting in the Curia and contemplate the function of the towering roof in a time without microphones. Make a speech from the Rostra, the tribune built by Julius Caesar. Lead a procession on Via Sacra but only if 5000 or more enemy soldiers were killed in your last battle. When you’re done head to the Tabularium and pretend to examine the state archives. And if you’re feeling really energetic write out questions three or four and hold a treasure hunt in the sprawling remains. Touring the Roman Forum with kids in tow can be lots of fun and create great memories too.

Fun Facts about the Roman Forum

There are lots of fun facts about the Roman Forum. Did you know that:

Rome's first inhabitants lived on the hill. At that time the Forum, the Latin word for outside, was a marshy place full of mosquitoes.
Tarquinius Priscus, the 5th king of Rome, built a sewer and drained the Forum creating the new center of Rome.
The Romans went to the Forum to do more than shop. They held meetings and religious ceremonies, administered justice and even gossiped in the Roman Forum.
Not all of the temples in the Roman Forum are dedicated to gods some are dedicated to people. The Romans believed that by building a temple and dedicating it to themselves they became deity.
The Romans built glorious arches to celebrate their conquests and decorated them with battle scenes. Several are still standing.
Julius Caesar built the Curia, the great brick Senate building, for the same men that slew him.
Processions of all kinds took place along Via Sacra, the Forum's main street. They were led by the city's leaders and enjoyed by its citizens.
With the decline of the Roman Empire the Forum was used increasingly less. In the Middle Ages it was filled with dirt and made it into a meadow. Thus it became known as Campo Vaccino or Cow Field in English.