Historians are still trying to uncover new findings that could give them answers about Rome’s exact age. Persistent efforts to restore and preserve the ruins remain a top priority.Įxcavations are ongoing in and around the Forum. Visitors can get a first-hand look at the ancient ruins and architectural fragments that were left behind. Today, the Roman Forum is a popular tourist attraction. In fact, it wasn’t fully excavated until the early 20th century.īecause the Romans built over earlier ruins, the remains from several centuries can be found in the Forum. The Roman Forum was “rediscovered” by archeologist Carlo Fea in 1803.Įxcavations to clear the area took over 100 years. The area became known as “Campo Vaccino,” or “cattle field” and was essentially an overgrown, neglected field.
After a rising conflict, Romulus killed Remus, became king and named Rome after himself.īut most of the ancient buildings and sites in the Roman Forum were destroyed in 410 A.D., around the time that the entire Roman Empire began to fall.ĭuring the Middle Ages, the land that was once the great Roman Forum was reduced to a pasture for grazing animals. Forum’s Early HistoryĪccording to a widely accepted legend, ancient Rome was founded by brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C. Today, the Roman Forum is one of the most famous tourist sites in the world, attracting more than 4.5 million visitors annually. The rectangular-shaped area, sited on low-lying land between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, was home to many of the ancient city’s most impressive temples and monuments. Historians believe people first began publicly meeting in the open-air Forum around 500 B.C., when the Roman Republic was founded. The Roman Forum, known as Forum Romanum in Latin, was a site located at the center of the ancient city of Rome and the location of important religious, political and social activities.