Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Forums & Around
Before venturing into the forums, take a minute to prepare yourself at the
Tourist Information
Point
(Via dei Fori Imperiali;
Via dei Fori Imperiali)
, which has a big plan map of the
9.30am-7pm;
forums.
ROMAN FORUM
See
Click here
.
RUINS
BASILICA DI SS COSMA E DAMIANO
BASILICA
( Via dei Fori Imperiali; presepio donation €1; 9am-1pm & 3-7pm, presepio 10am-1pm & 3-6pm Fri-Sun; Via
dei Fori Imperiali)
Backing onto the Roman Forum, this 6th-century basilica incorporates parts
of the
Foro di Vespasiano
and
Tempio di Romolo
, visible at the end of the nave. The real reasons
to visit , though, are the vibrant 6th-century apse mosaics, depicting Christ's Second Com-
ing. Also worth a look is the 18th-century Neapolitan
presepio
(nativity scene) in a room off
the tranquil 17th-century cloisters.
MAPS & GUIDES
As fascinating as Rome's ruins are, they are not well labelled and it can be hard to know what you're looking at
without a map or specialist guide. ATS Italia produces a
Guide to the Fora and the Colosseum
(€6) with a useful
map and plan. Electa publishes a number of insightful guides, including guides to the
Colosseum
(€5), the
Foro,
Palatine and Colosseum
(€10), and the
Archaeological Guide to Rome
(€15 in English; €12.90 in Italian), avail-
able at the Colosseum and Roman Forum bookshops.
MERCATI DI TRAIANO MUSEO DEI FORI IMPERIALI
MUSEUM
( 06 06 08;
www.mercatiditraiano.it
; Via IV Novembre 94; adult/reduced €9.50/7.50; 9am-7pm Tue-Sun, last
admission 6pm; Via IV Novembre)
This striking museum brings to life the
Mercati di Traiano
, em-
peror Trajan's great 2nd-century market complex, while also providing a fascinating intro-
duction to the
Imperial Forums
with detailed explanatory panels and a smattering of archae-
ological artefacts.
From the main hallway, a lift whisks you up to the
Torre delle Milizie
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(Militia Tower), a 13th-century red-brick tower, and the upper levels of the Mercati. These
markets, housed in a three-storey semicircular construction, hosted hundreds of traders
