Rome, The Roman Forum Part II

Unfortunately we have reached the part of the Forum where Wikipedia as a resource to tell me what I'm looking at doesn't quite cut it. I'll name what I can. If you get a chance to go here, tours and/or audio guides are available if you are not interested in wandering around and looking at something you can't identify. For those of us who are okay with that, skip the lines and the throngs of people and just wander. The Forum is beautiful either way!

Columns near the Temple of Venus and Roma with the Arch of Titus in the background.

Temple of Venus and Roma, construction began in 121 and was finished in 141AD

Columns on the other side of the Temple of Venus and Roma

Walking the perimeter of the Forum, we came across these ruins.

"Reconstructed windows"

Part of the aqueduct system within the Forum (?)

Stadium remains

Don't you love how the window frames the dome?

Check back next week to see what we were seeing! 

Rome, The Roman Forum Part I

Okay folks, I have a slew of pictures from the Forum. Which is why I've been putting it off. Oops.

The Roman Forum was the center of ancient Rome. It's right next door to the Colosseum and basically is a big area filled with monuments, temples, and other ancient buildings. I'm using Wikipedia to help me name everything  in the pictures Jason took.

Remember you can make pictures larger by clicking on them. I recommend right clicking and then clicking on "open in new tab" so you don't have to push the back button on your browser to return to this page.

Not the Forum. But just outside the Forum is busy, modern life.

Just inside the Forum. 

Yep, all those ruins with a crane in the background.

Originally the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina built in 141 AD,
rebuilt/adapted into a Roman Catholic Church, San Lorenzo in Marina

Arch of Septimius Severus, dedicated in 203 AD to the victories of
Emperor Severus (and sons) over Parthians in 194-5 and  197-9.

Remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, originally
completed in 484 BC. 

Temple of Romulus, built in early 300s AD

Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, the largest building in the Forum

As you can see by that strange guy's expression, it's pretty big.

This is the building's northern aisle. 

It was built between 308-312 AD

Coffered vaults made of concrete

Look at that gorgeous sky!
December is a great time to visit Rome!

Look out the window and what do you see?
The Colosseum of course!

I have no idea. Maybe part of the cloisters behind the
Temple of Romulus. Ideas, anyone?

Hey, there's that guy again!
I wonder what he's taking a picture of.

No, I don't think that's what he was aiming for...

Ah, there it is!

Tabularium: official records office of ancient Rome, originally constructed

in 78 BC, restored and renovated in 46 AD.

Wedding Cake building: Outside of the Forum, looks like a

tiered white cake from the front, completed in 1935.

Arch of Titus, constructed ~82 AD to celebrate the victories
of Emperor Titus. Said to the be inspiration for the
 Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Um, I'm not even half-way through my pictures of the Forum...

My guess is that 20 pictures is probably the most I should put in a post, so look for the next installment of the Forum next week! 

Rome, The Colosseum

All of the guidebooks will tell you that getting into The Colosseum is difficult. Well, go at 8:30am on December 30 and you'll have no problems getting in at all! We had planned on going to the Forum first because it's generally easier to get in there, but when we got off the subway, there was no line at the Colosseum. So we jumped at the chance to get there before the crowds descended. And it was good. To view larger versions of the pictures, just click on them :)

No Line!!

There are a few things to see inside before heading into the arena.

I'll let the Colosseum speak for itself.

And lastly, a picture of the Colosseum where you can see the Roman Forum. Check back next week for pictures of the Forum!!