Imperial fora
Archaeological Site Series of ancient Roman public squares and ruins
A series of Imperial fora in central Rome - including Caesar’s and Trajan’s - where tourists study Roman political and commercial life through ruins, columns and mosaics close to the Colosseum.
The Imperial fora are a sequence of monumental public squares and associated buildings constructed in ancient Rome as an extension of the Roman Forum. They were built between the late Republic and the early 2nd century AD by successive emperors to provide additional administrative, civic and ceremonial space.
Key highlights are the monumental colonnaded courtyards, temples and civic buildings that form a linear complex along the central city axis; the Forum of Trajan is the largest and includes the well-known Trajan’s Column. Visitors can view remains of colonnades, temples bases, paved courts and sculptural decoration across multiple adjacent forum sites.
Construction of the Imperial fora began with Julius Caesar in the late 1st century BC and continued under emperors such as Augustus, Nerva and Trajan into the early 2nd century AD. Each forum was commissioned by a different ruler and served civic, religious and administrative functions; over time many spaces were modified, repurposed or quarried for building materials.
The forums sit in the historic centre of Rome, immediately northeast of the Roman Forum and southwest of the modern Via dei Fori Imperiali, within walking distance of the Colosseum and other central antiquities.
- Trajan's Column: Trajan's Column, erected around 113 AD, is a prominent surviving monument that rises above the Trajan forum complex and records the emperor's Dacian wars in a spiral relief.
What to See #
- Forum of Caesar: Forum of Caesar - constructed in the late Roman Republic to relieve congestion in the Roman Forum and centred on a temple dedicated to Venus Genetrix.
- Forum of Augustus: Forum of Augustus - built in the early imperial period with a temple to Mars Ultor and a monumental courtyard with colonnades.
- Forum of Nerva: Forum of Nerva - a narrower forum built to complete the imperial series and linking older spaces toward the Roman Forum.
- Forum of Trajan: Forum of Trajan - the largest imperial forum, featuring Trajan's Column and large basilicas built in the early 2nd century AD.
- Temple of Peace / Forum of Vespasian: Temple of Peace (Forum of Vespasian) - an imperial forum incorporating a large open space and monumental architecture from the Flavian era.
How to Get to Imperial fora #
The Imperial Fora and Roman Forum are in central Rome. The nearest metro stop is Colosseo (Line B). Many bus routes run along Via dei Fori Imperiali; the area is a walkable 10-15 minutes from the Colosseum and Capitoline Hill.
Tips for Visiting Imperial fora #
- Buy timed-entry tickets for the Colosseum online in advance to avoid long queues.
- Enter the Imperial Fora/Forum area early morning to see the light fall across temples before the tour groups arrive.
- Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for uneven ancient paving stones and restricted areas in active archaeological digs.
Best Time to Visit Imperial fora #
Spring and autumn are best for weather and light; buy tickets in advance to avoid queues.
Weather & Climate near Imperial fora #
Imperial fora'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.
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February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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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.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).
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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.
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December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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