Roman Forum

The Roman Forum developed gradually over many centuries from what was a swampy lake and was the center of public life in ancient Rome. It was surrounded by important government buildings and was the venue for major public events. After the fall of the Empire, the Forum was neglected and used as a meadow, earning the nickname Campo Vaccino. It was excavated in the 18th century and is now an open-air museum with well-preserved ruins. If short on time, visitors can see parts of the forum from the public street above.