The Roman Forum was the public space in Rome where religious, commercial, financial, administrative and economic activities took place, as well as the social life of the inhabitants.
The most important elements of the city were located in it: temples, government institutions, markets and places for the various activities of the population.
Famous for its remains, which clearly show how the Romans used the urban space, the Roman Forum includes several temples such as those of Romulus, Saturn, Vesta and Caesar, among others; the Basilicas of Julia, of Emilia, and of Maxentius and Constantine; the Rostra (plural of rostrum), the tribune from which the politicians gave their speeches to the Roman citizens; the Arches of Septimius Severus and of Titus.
The Column of Phocas, dedicated to the Byzantine emperor Phocas, was the last monument added to the Roman Forum, in 608.
During the Middle Ages the Roman Forum was covered with rubble and it was not until the end of the 18th century that excavations began to recover these monuments, which were fully recovered at the end of the 20th century.
