Forum of Caesar

The Forum of Caesar (Forum Iulium) is an Imperial forum in central Rome, begun by Julius Caesar in the mid-1st century BC and centred on a temple dedicated to Venus Genetrix. It forms one of the series of Imperial Fora between the Roman Forum and the Capitoline Hill.

Remains on site include the temple podium and foundation walls, sections of the forum paving and lower masonry, and exposed stratigraphy that illustrates Roman urban construction. The temple podium and adjacent archaeological layers are the primary attractions for visitors interested in Republican and early Imperial Rome.

Julius Caesar initiated construction in the late Republic and dedicated the complex in the mid-1st century BC; the forum and its temple served legal, administrative and commemorative purposes for the Caesar family. Over subsequent centuries the site was altered, reused and partly buried; archaeological excavations from the 19th century to the present have exposed much of the surviving footprint.

The forum sits in the historic core of Rome, immediately east of the Roman Forum and west of the Forum of Augustus, adjacent to the modern Via dei Fori Imperiali. It is within walking distance of the Colosseum and central Rome landmarks.

• Visible from Via dei Fori Imperiali: The site lies among the Imperial Fora and is visible from the archaeological walkways along Via dei Fori Imperiali, with interpretive panels and excavated remains on open display.

What to See #

• Temple of Venus Genetrix: The Temple of Venus Genetrix occupies the focal point of the forum; today only the temple podium and foundations remain visible and are among the best-preserved stone elements on site.
• Forum square and paving: The forum square shows exposed sections of the original paving and foundation walls, revealing the rectangular public space that adjoined the temple podium and supported administrative and legal functions.