Forum, Pompei

Forum, Pompei (must see)

The Forum, a feature present in many Roman settlements, was a public space found at the centre of Pompei. It stands in the middle of a square, which contains several of the town鈥檚 most significant buildings. From the southern end of the forum, moving clockwise, there are the Basilica, the Temple of Apollo, the grain and food markets, the sanctuary, the temple of Vespasian, the building of Eumachia, and the Comitium.

It is safe to assume that the Forum was at one time the centre of Pompei. It stands on the junction of two Roman roads, linking Pompei with Naples and the nearby settlement of Stabiae. However, within the preserved ruins of the city, the Forum is found towards the outskirts. This is believed to be due to large scale development in the 2nd century BC, which moved the city centre away from the Forum.

Now a square of grass, the Forum area appears to have undergone many changes during the history of Pompei. Prior to the earthquake in 62 AD, the floor was receiving an upgrade 鈥� it is still partially paved with travertine. It is thought that a market was held in the middle of the open space. There are also a number of marble bases missing the statues that should sit upon them, and a half finished suggestum 鈥� the Roman equivalent of a soapbox for public speaking.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Pompei. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Forum
Sight Location: Pompei, Italy (See walking tours in Pompei)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Pompeii Introduction Walk II

Walking Tours in Pompei, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Pompei

Creating your own self-guided walk in Pompei is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Pompeii Introduction Walk II

Frozen at the moment it was buried under the thick blanket of ash and pumice, the city of Pompeii (now excavated) remains a unique window into the past, offering a snapshot of everyday life back in the 1st century AD Roman Empire. Aside from causing quick and unexpected death to the city, the huge eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD did have one positive outcome 鈥� it preserved everything (properties,... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

Pompeii Introduction Walk I

Modern-day Pompei is best known for its ancient predecessor, the Roman city of Pompeii, that fell victim to the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ruins of Pompeii, first uncovered in the late 18th century, were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Presently, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, drawing annually up to 2.5 million visitors.

The... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

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