Column of Phocas
Monument Late Roman honorific column in the Roman Forum
The Column of Phocas stands in the Roman Forum as a late antique dedication. Visitors encounter it while touring the Forum’s layers of temples, arches and imperial monuments.
The Column of Phocas is a tall, freestanding Corinthian column standing in the Roman Forum in Rome. It was erected in the early 7th century and is one of the latest dated monuments in the Forum.
The column was dedicated in 608 CE to the Byzantine emperor Phocas; it is recorded as one of the final honorary monuments erected in the ancient Forum. Over time the column survived while many surrounding buildings fell into ruin or were quarried for stone.
Located within the archaeological area of the Roman Forum in central Rome, the column sits among the Forum’s ruins close to the Curia and the Arch of Septimius Severus.
- Date of erection: Erected in 608 CE, it is commonly cited as the last monumental addition placed in the Roman Forum.
How to Get to Column of Phocas #
The Column of Phocas stands inside the Roman Forum in central Rome. The easiest public-transit route is Metro Line B to Colosseo station; from there it’s a 10-15 minute walk across Largo Corrado Ricci and along Via dei Fori Imperiali/Via Sacra into the Forum. By car it is in the city centre (near Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum) - from Piazza Venezia the site is only about 1 km away; access by car is limited and parking is not convenient, so use public transport or walk.
Tips for Visiting Column of Phocas #
- Visit early in the morning as part of a combined Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine ticket to see the Column of Phocas before tour groups arrive - the column is inside the Forum complex and access is via the Roman Forum ticket.
- Start at the Forum's main walkway and head straight to the southeastern corner where the column stands; many visitors overlook the dedicatory inscription and base details, so take a moment to read the inscription and study the monument up close.
- For a different perspective and better photos, walk up to the Capitoline Hill or the surrounding rampside viewpoints to capture the column in the wider context of the Forum and nearby ruins.
Best Time to Visit Column of Phocas #
Best visited in spring or autumn when temperatures are mild and crowds are lower than in peak summer.
Weather & Climate near Column of Phocas #
Column of Phocas's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 4°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (705 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm).
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 15 mm and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 96 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
