Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

The Roman Forum was the beating heart of ancient Rome, the centre of its politics, religion and public life, and its ruins, tumbled columns, triumphal arches, temples and basilicas, lie in a valley below the Palatine Hill, where the emperors built their palaces. Walking the Sacred Way among these stones is to walk through the centre of the ancient world.

What you actually see

• The Forum ruins - the temples, arches and basilicas of the ancient centre.
• The Palatine Hill - the ruins of the imperial palaces and the city's founding hill.
• The triumphal arches - the arches of Titus and Septimius Severus.
• The viewpoints - the views over the Forum from the Palatine and the Capitoline.

When to go

Spring and autumn for mild weather; it is very exposed, so summer heat is hard and shade scarce. It is included with the Colosseum ticket, so allow time for all three.

Honest expectations

The ruins take imagination and, ideally, a guide or audio guide to make sense of, since much is fragmentary. It is exposed with little shade, so summer is punishing. It is large, so combined with the Colosseum it is a long, tiring visit.

Nearby

The Colosseum is alongside; the Capitoline Hill and its museums overlook the Forum.