The Old Republic had its formal Comitium there where the senate, as well as Republican government began. The forum served as a city square and central hub where the people of Rome gathered for justice, and faith. The forum was also the economic hub of the city and considered to be the center of the Republic and Empire.

The area of the forum was originally a grassy wetland. It was drained in the 7th century BCE by building the Cloaca Maxima, a large covered sewer system that drained into the Tiber River, as more people began to settle between the two hills. 

When the Roman Empire fell, the Forum was forgotten, buried and was used as a cattle pasture during the Middle Ages.Much of the forum has been destroyed. Columns and stone blocks are all that remain of some temples. The arch of Titus and the arch of Septimius Severus still stand and are in good shape. Like many other ancient Roman buildings, stone blocks have been removed from the Forum and used to build nearby churches and palaces.

Archaeological excavations began in 18th century, but the site have only been excavated systematically in the 20th century. Many of the later additions to buildings and monuments have now been removed and the original street level has been restored over large parts of the Forum.

The site of the Forum Romanum is still subject to excavations, and several parts of the Forum cannot be visited, but the whole area have the status of an archaeological site, open to visitors.

• Location:
  Main entrance on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, but there’s another at Via San Gregorio 30.
• Charges:
  €11.00  (This is a ticket that covers the Forum, the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, and it is valid for 48 hours.)
• Opening hours
  Daily, 09:00-19:00 (or one hour before dark)
• Transport:
  
  By Bus: 60, 75, 85, 87, 95, or 175
  
  By underground: Line B - Colosseo‎ stop

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