ROMAN FORUM
Via Sacra, running through the very center of the Forum from the foot of the Capitoline Hill in the west to the eastern end of the square and the Arch of Constantine (where there is a convenient access to the Colosseum), was the most famous street of ancient Rome, along which the victorious emperors and generals went with a thanksgiving procession to the Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill. At the foot of the hill, rows of soaring columns mark the places of a number of temples, dedicated to various gods and emperors, but, apart from the columns, there is little left of them. The Arch of Septimius Severus at the entrance to the Forum is better preserved, erected in the 2nd century. n.e. to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the emperor's reign. You can't get too close to it, and it is covered by a net, but it is one of the most impressive triumphal arches in the square. The friezes represent not only Severus, but also his son Caracalla, who ruled over unrestrained terror for seven years. Another son of Severus was also commemorated, Ability, ruling the empire after the death of his father together with Caracalla. Soon Geta was killed, murdered by order of Caracalla, and his name was removed from the bow.
Rostra rises above (rostrum), towering over the lawn, covered with paviment plates, stones and fallen columns, which marks the center of the former Forum. Most of the city's life took place here and in ancient times it was usually crowded with politicians, stands and merchants. Niger lapis, black, fenced off pawiment, points to a point, where, according to tradition, is the tomb of Romulus, and steps lead down to a standing monument, which in classical times was considered sacred. The Curia at the rear is one of the few structures on the Forum fully preserved. This great barn building with a simple pediment began to be built in 80 r. BC. Julius Caesar renewed it shortly thereafter, and it was rebuilt by Diocletian in the 2nd century. n.e. During the times of the republic, the senate used to meet here and the Augustors would come, to announce the will of the gods. Over the years, Curia served as a church, and it returned to its original form in our century.
Remains of other temples and basilicas in the form of columns and stone blocks can be found in the northern part of the Forum. The Basilica Emilia is especially worth seeing, where you can read the original shape of the building and the Basilica Julia on the other side of the Forum. Next to Basilica Julia there are columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, wrapped in a net and scaffolding, one of the oldest monuments in Rome, dated on 430 r. BC. and dedicated to divine twins, which ensured the Romans a miraculous victory in a decisive battle. At the rear is the Church of Santa Maria Antiqua, which was the vestibule of the palace of Emperor Domitian on the Palatine and was the first ancient building transformed for the needs of the Christian cult. Currently, the church is usually closed, but through the grating on the Capitol side you can see frescoes from the 7th and 8th centuries.
Further excavations continue towards the Palatine Hill; better to go the other way to the House of Westalek, which is made in the second century. n.e. reconstruction of a building originally erected by Nero. The cult of Vestal virgins played an important role in ancient Rome: six women, who lived here, was responsible for keeping the holy fire of the goddess Vesta alive; if the fire went out, the guilty priestess was flogged; if any vestal has lost her virginity, she was flogged, and then it was buried alive in the ground (an accomplice man was punished only with a whip). No wonder then, that few young girls were anxious, to take on this role, despite the fact that the Vestals enjoyed numerous privileges, and the palace was very comfortable: four floors surrounded the courtyard, with the round temple of Vesta closer to the entrance. Most of the halls are in ruins today, although from the Palatine side their outline remains legible, and the shape of the building can be deduced from the remains of the courtyard. There is a pond inside, and on the periphery are statues of vestals or pedestals with inscriptions.
Opposite the House of Vestals stands the round temple of Romulus, which serves as the vestibule at the rear of the Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano. In its apse there is an impressive mosaic from the 6th century., depicting Christ and the Apostles (wejśie or via dei Fori Imperiali). Just behind the temple, a short arcade leads to the Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius, common work of both emperors. Budnyek dominates the main street, and in terms of size and brilliance, it is perhaps the most spectacular monument on the Forum. Hexagonal coffered arches reportedly studied by Michelangelo, struggling with the design of the dome of St.. Peter, and the Renaissance architects modeled themselves on the local apse and spans.
It gets steeper from the Via Sacra basilica and runs past a series of ruins that are considered to be the Arch of Titus, which no one managed to prove to the end. The arch dominates the lower part of the Palatine Hill, starting from one side to the next section of via Sacra, and on the other, the Forum itself. It is the only bow, to which you can approach, without scaffolding, and the reliefs inside show magnifying glasses looted from Jerusalem by Roman warriors.
PALATYN
Turning right near the Arch of Titus, you enter the Palatine Hill, where the city of Rome was supposedly founded and where one of the oldest ruins is located. It is a nicer place to visit than the Forum, bigger, greener and more park-like - a great time to grab a bite to eat and rest in the stone desert below. During the time of the Palatine Republic, it was the most prestigious district of Rome (the word "palace" comes from the name of the hill), and great celebrities continued to settle there during the imperial era, trying to outdo one another in the splendor of their mansions.
Domus Flavia stood on the main road from the Forum, one of the most spectacular mansions and although there are only ruins here at present, the peristyle is easy to recognize, with a fountain and an octagonal brick foundation in the center. On the left, the top tier of the gigantic Domus Augustana extends all the way to the edge of the hill - that's not it, as the name would suggest, the house of Augustus, but the private seat of every emperor („Augustus”). From here you can look at the huge courtyard with a fountain in the form of a labyrinth and take a walk through several empty rooms, then explore Deep Trench Stadium (type of race track), which, however, is often closed to the public. On its other side, the ruins of the Baths of Septimius Severus are attached to the hill, from which the terrace has a good view of the Colosseum and the hill of Celius in front; below there is one more entrance to the Palatine area.
In the opposite direction from Domus Flavia are the stairs leading to the cryptopor-ticus, long passage built by Nero, linking his Domus Aurea with the Domus Augustana and other Palatine Palaces, decorated with well-preserved antique stucco. You can go both ways from there: on the left you come to Livia's House, where, as once thought, August's wife lived, Livia, but has now been found, that it was part of Augustus' palace (the ruins of which can be seen further behind). The courtyard and some of the rooms on its side are decorated with frescoes, the best of which are, however, in the Museo Nazionale Romano.
Turning right in the passage, and then going up the stairs on the left, you come to the Farnese Gardens. It is one of the first botanical gardens in Europe, founded in the mid-16th century. by Alessandro Farnese and now carefully cared for. Here you can take refuge from the unbearable heat of unshielded ruins. The terrace on this side overlooks the Forum, while another one on the other side overlooks the Church of San Teodoro, St.. Peter and the new excavations below. These excavations are the true center of Rome's origins: Iron Age hut, called the House of Romulus, it is the best-preserved element from the 9th century. BC. settlements; in turn the so-called Lupercal, in the back, it is a cave according to tradition, where the she-wolf fed Romulus and Remus.