Trajan’s Forum, on Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome, was the last and largest of the city’s Imperial forums. Its broad footprint and surviving columns give a sense of the scale of the complex, while Trajan’s Column carries a carved account of the emperor’s campaigns against the Dacians. You can view the ruins from around the edges or buy a ticket to explore further. Look closely at the column’s reliefs, and consider adding the nearby Markets of Trajan, which now house the Museum of the Imperial Forums.
The last of the Imperial forums
Trajan’s Forum was built in the early second century CE on the orders of Emperor Trajan, after his campaigns against the Dacians. Designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, it was the last and largest of Rome’s Imperial forums. Its scale and layout made it one of the most elaborate public spaces of its kind in the city.
The forum was a group of buildings and open spaces, rather than a single monument. Today, the remains sit beside Via dei Fori Imperiali, close to the Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia. The two forums are near each other, but Trajan’s Forum is a separate complex.
Reading Trajan’s Column
The column is the site’s most distinctive monument. About 38 metres high, it was completed in 113 CE. A long marble band winds around its surface, carved with scenes from Trajan’s two wars against the Dacians, whose territory was in what is now Romania. The reliefs offer a detailed depiction of the campaigns and their military world.
A spiral staircase of 185 steps runs inside the column. A golden urn containing Trajan’s ashes was once kept at its base. Take time to look over the exterior reliefs from different angles; the carved band rises around the shaft, so its scenes unfold as it climbs.
The basilica and the markets
The Basilica Ulpia once stood within the forum and was the largest basilica in Rome. It was used for legal proceedings and commerce. The rows of grey granite columns still visible on site mark the scale of the building that once stood there.
The Markets of Trajan form another part of the complex. The multi-level structure held shops as well as administrative offices, and today it houses the Museum of the Imperial Forums. A multimedia reconstruction shows how the markets may have looked at the height of the Roman Empire before you continue among the surviving remains. Two libraries once stood on either side of Trajan’s Column, one for Latin scrolls and one for Greek scrolls.
You can see parts of the ruins from the surrounding route without entering the fenced area. A ticket is needed to explore further inside the site, and advance booking is recommended. The Markets and forum are worth considering together if you want to look beyond the open views along Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Perguntas frequentes
Can you see Trajan’s Forum without a ticket?
You can view parts of the ruins from around the edges. A ticket is needed to explore beyond the fences.
What is Trajan’s Column known for?
Its marble relief band winds around the column and depicts Trajan’s two campaigns against the Dacians.
What is inside the Markets of Trajan?
The multi-level complex once held shops and administrative offices. It now houses the Museum of the Imperial Forums.
When is a good time to visit Trajan’s Forum?
Early morning, evening and sunset are good options for a quieter visit or softer light on the stones.
