Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Arch of Titus

Our tour of the Colosseum with Barbara also included a guided tour of the Roman Forum.  The Roman Forum was the political, religious, and commercial center of the city.  It was the market, it was where returning war heroes had their parades, and it was the place of important political speeches -- you just had to imagine as Barbara would tell us.  This is an area of ruins, but one that archaeologists have examined for many years, and what still remains shows the impressive abilities of the Roman Empire to construct huge and elaborate buildings.  While they had indentured servitude and slavery to help them, it still would not have been possible without the architectural and engineering knowledge developed at the time.  What

View of Roman Forum from Palatine Hill

remains today is just a shell of its former glory, but Barbara showed us pictures of what the archaeologists have pieced together that the Forum likely looked like in its time and it would have been incredible.

Mona and I also walked up Palatine Hill while Mom and Pop took a break from all the walking.  There's more ruins to explore but we went for the view -- one fit for an emperor as he took in the grand expanse of the Forum from his palace that once stood here.