Why is the Roman Forum in ruins?

After political power shifted away from Rome, buildings were damaged by fires and earthquakes, pagan temples closed, and builders took stone and marble for new churches and palaces. Floodwater and debris then buried the ancient level under several metres of soil. Excavations from the 19th century onward uncovered what visitors see today.

How old is the Roman Forum?

The valley was drained and first used as a public space around the 7th–6th centuries BC, so parts of the Forum date back more than 2,500 years. Most of the standing monuments are later, from the late Republic and the imperial period, and many were rebuilt several times after fires.

Roman Forum History: What It Was and Why It Became Ruins

Roman Forum at golden hour with the Column of Phocas and Temple of Saturn — Low evening light warms the travertine; closing times change through the year.

What was the Roman Forum?

The Roman Forum was the political, religious, legal and commercial heart of ancient Rome. It started as a marshy valley drained around the 7th–6th centuries BC, and over the next thousand years filled with temples, law courts (basilicas), the Senate House, speakers’ platforms and monuments to victories and emperors.

How did it change over time?

Period	What happened
Kingdom (to 509 BC)	Valley drained; first shrines and meeting space
Republic	Temples of Saturn and Castor, Senate House, Rostra
44 BC	Caesar cremated in the Forum; Temple of Caesar later built
Empire	Imperial Fora built next door as the old Forum became crowded
4th–6th centuries	Decline; temples converted to churches
Middle Ages	Buried under soil; known as Campo Vaccino (cow field)
19th–20th centuries	Systematic excavations reveal the ancient level

Why did the Roman Forum become ruins?

Several causes overlapped: the move of political power away from Rome, fires and earthquakes, the closing of pagan temples, and centuries of stripping marble and stone for new buildings and lime kilns. Floods and debris raised the ground level by several metres, so the ancient pavement disappeared until excavation.

How should you read the ruins today?

Look for layers: ancient columns, medieval churches built into them and modern excavation edges. The buildings that survive best, like the Curia and the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, were reused as churches. Prices, ticket names and time slots are set by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo and change; check the official ticket page before buying.

Traveler showing a mobile ticket on a phone outside an ancient Roman site

Tiqets

Skip-the-line and last-minute Roman Forum tickets — resellers may still have availability; prices are usually higher.

Check prices A local guide showing a small tour group around the Roman Forum ruins

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Guided tours with entry included — compare with official dates first; prices are usually higher.

Check prices The Roman Forum ruins with the Colosseum behind at sunset

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Official sources

Reviewed October 2026. Ticket names, prices, hours and open areas change — always confirm on the official pages.

Parco archeologico del Colosseo: Roman Forum area

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Roman Forum in ruins?: After political power shifted away from Rome, buildings were damaged by fires and earthquakes, pagan temples closed, and builders took stone and marble for new churches and palaces. Floodwater and debris then buried the ancient level under several metres of soil. Excavations from the 19th century onward uncovered what visitors see today.
How old is the Roman Forum?: The valley was drained and first used as a public space around the 7th–6th centuries BC, so parts of the Forum date back more than 2,500 years. Most of the standing monuments are later, from the late Republic and the imperial period, and many were rebuilt several times after fires.