Forum Holitorium Archaeological Site

The Forum Holitorium was the ancient Roman vegetable market located in the southern Campus Martius beside the Tiber River in central Rome. Today the site is known through scattered archaeological remains and the footprints of temples and market structures.

The area contains fragments of masonry and temple remains that were incorporated into later buildings and the medieval urban fabric. It is not a large standalone ruin but forms part of the dense archaeological landscape of the historic city.

In antiquity the Forum Holitorium served as the city’s market for vegetables and other foodstuffs and lay close to other public spaces and sanctuaries in the Campus Martius. Over centuries the market area changed use and parts of its fabric were reused in successive Roman and medieval structures.

The site is located on the west bank of the Tiber near the Theatre of Marcellus and the area around Piazza Bocca della Verite0 in central Rome, within walking distance of other major Roman monuments.

• Location of remains: Archaeological remains and foundations are visible in the area beside the Tiber and are best seen in conjunction with visits to the nearby Theatre of Marcellus and Capitoline area.

In central Rome near the Theatre of Marcellus and the Tiber river; an easy walk from Largo di Torre Argentina or the historic city centre. Use local maps to locate the visible temple remains.

• Explore the area late in the day when the ancient stones catch low light; the site sits near other major Roman ruins that make a single itinerary very satisfying.
• Look for small informational plaques and paved fragments embedded in the modern streets - Roman layers are often literal layers here.