Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Next, you'll see
models
of every Roman structure in (and near) Arles. These are the
highlight for me, as they breathe life into the buildings as they looked 2,000 years ago.
Start with the model of Roman Arles and ponder the city's splendor over 2,000 years ago
when Arles' population was double that of today. That's something to chew on. Find the
forum—still the center of town today, though only two columns survive (the smaller sec-
tion of the forum is where today's Place du Forum is built). Look at the space Romans
devoted to their arena and huge racecourse—a reminder that an emphasis on sports is not
unique to modern civilizations (the museum you're in is at the non-city end of the course).
ThemodelalsoillustrateshowlittleArlesseemstohavechangedovertwomillennia,with
its houses still clustered around the city center, and warehouses still located on the oppos-
ite side of the river.
Prowltheroomforindividualmodelsofthemajorbuildingsshowninthecitymodel:
the elaborately elegant forum; the floating wooden bridge that gave Arles a strategic ad-
