Via dei Fori Imperiali

From the Colosseum, we headed towards the Piazza di Venezia along a street that runs through the territory of the main public buildings of Ancient Rome - the Imperial forums, which gave this street its name.

Rome. Street of the Imperial forum (Via dei Fori Imperiali)

On the right side, just behind the pedestal of the pagan temple of Venus and Roma, you can see another grandiose structure, the Basilica, laid in 308 under the Emperor Maxentius and completed under Constantine in 312. This is why the Church is called the Basilica di Massenzio-Costantino on the map.

Rome. Basilica di Massenzio-Costantino)

This largest building of forums was not only a place of worship of the gods, but also performed public functions - the city Council met here and even held sports competitions.

Rome. Basilica di Massenzio-Costantino)

In front of the Basilica is a wall with four panels (on the map) , representing maps of Roman possessions in different eras.

Rome. Street of the Imperial forum (Via dei Fori Imperiali)

Then, just to the side, we will see the Basilica of Cosmas and Damian (Santi Cosma e Damiano on the map).

 Basilica of Cosmas and Damian (Santi Cosma e Damiano

This early Christian temple was consecrated in 527 in the name of Christian brothers, healers who were martyred under the Emperor Carin at the end of the second century.

 Basilica of Cosmas and Damian (Santi Cosma e Damiano

Behind the Church of Cosmas and Damian, you can see the Foundation of the Emilia Basilica, behind which you can see the columns of honor and the remains of the Julius Basilica.

Roman forum

Further on, again on the left, we will see the Curia Iulia (Curia Iulia on the map) - the place where the meetings of the Roman Senate were held. The beautiful exterior is explained simply - it is a new model, a reconstruction of a building of the 3rd century, built in 1937.

Rome. The Curia Julia

Church of Saints Luke and Martina (Chiesa di SS.Luca e Martin on the map), built in the 6th century in honor of Saint Martina, was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style and consecrated under the current name.

Church of Saints Luke and Martina (Chiesa di SS.Luca e Martin)