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What was once the pinnacle of ancient Rome can be viewed in the ruins of the forum. The forum was the commercial, political and religious centre of ancient Rome and you can see it spread out between the Capitoline and Palatine hills. It took about 900 years to construct, with the Republican buildings sitting in arranged beside the temples o the Gods from the Imperial era. Excavations on the site began early in the 18th century andn continue to this day as with most of the historical sites. The site appears as grassy park with skeletal remains of the once grain arena jutting through the pastures. Columns rise through the grassy banks and pediments and other remains are placed to evoke the imagination. You can leave the current day behind and spend hours envisioning the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple of Saturn, the House of the Vestals (casa dei vestali) where the sacred flame was tended and the Arch of Titus with reliefs celebrating the victories of the emperor. You can walk along the streets marked out as they once were and imagine being Julius Caesar returning victorius, before he was murdered and his body burned obviously. From here you can climb the Palatine hill, the site where the wealthy built their houses and enjoy the views and explore the many grottos. From here you can gaze on the ruins of the Circus Maximus, although it now appears as an enormous oval field it is fun to imagine the chariot races that took place and even have a run around it if you are feeling that energetic. If you make it that far then just to relive a cinema moment head to that far end and go to the church of Santa Maria in cosmedin. Here you will find the bocca della verità or mouth of truth immortalized in the film Roman Holiday and reputed to eat the hand of the person who lies when he places his hand in the mouth of the mask. |