Trajan’s Forum, Trajan’s Market and Trajan’s Column in Rome

Nestled in the heart of Rome’s ancient district, Trajan’s Forum (Forum Traiani) – where you’ll find Trajan’s Market as well as Trajan’s Column – is the largest and best-preserved of the Imperial Forums.

Follow the guide!

Brief history

The Imperial Forums (Fori Imperiali)

In the 1^st century AD, the Roman Forum became somewhat cramped for the growing Roman population. Around the same time, the political and judicial activities of the Empire were transferred to the Palatine Hill.

The Emperors therefore decided to build new forums: Julius Caesar first, then Augustus, Vespasian, Domitian and Trajan.

The Imperial Fora extend over a vast area (½ kilometer long and about 300 meters wide).

Trajan’s Forum

In ancient times

Built between 106 and 113 AD thanks to the spoils of war amassed during the Dacian Wars, Trajan’s Forum commemorates the victories of the Emperor against the Dacian tribes.

Trajan’s Forum is the largest and most ambitious of the Imperial Fora… a feat, considering that the Emperor and his architect – Apollodorus of Damascus – had to clear and level a vast area between the Capitoline hills and the Quirinal in order to have enough space for their colossal project.

In Ancient times, the Forum of Trajan was organized around a central square and comprised many buildings (many of which unfortunately have not survived the test of time):

• The Basilica Ulpia
• Trajan’s Column
• Two libraries, one housing works in Greek and one home to works in Latin
• The temple dedicated to the deified Trajan, built at the request of Emperor Hadrian
• Trajan’s Market

In the middle Ages

If the Forum of Trajan remained relatively intact until the late Antiquity, it virtually disappeared in the Middle Ages. Many of the forum’s buildings were destroyed in an earthquake in 801.

Subsequently, the Forum’s materials were looted and new buildings were gradually built above the ruins of the ancient monuments. One church even “recycled” Trajan’s Column as a bell tower!

Since the Middle Ages

If most of Trajan’s Forum disappeared, Trajan’s Column miraculously remains incredible well preserved today. The column has never ceased to fascinate artists and politicians (Raphael, Francis I of France, Louis XIV…), therefore surviving the test of time.

Trajan’s Market also remains in relatively good condition considering its old age. Even though it’s not nearly as well preserved, the Basilica Ulpia is still identifiable today.

Visiting Trajan’s Forum, Trajan’s Market and Trajan’s Column

The Forum of Trajan is the largest of the Imperial Forums (300 meters x 185 meters). The Forum’s design was also quite innovative at the time of its construction. Unlike the other forums, Trajan’s forum was built around a civil basilica – the Basilica Ulpia – rather than a religious temple.

Even though it might be hard to believe considering how bare it appears today, it was originally richly decorated with marble, stucco and paintings.

Only Trajan’s Column, Trajan’s Market and some vestiges of the Basilica Ulpia have survived the centuries.

The Basilica Ulpia

Surprised by the presence of a basilica on a Roman forum? In ancient Rome, a basilica was a civil building, intended for financial, commercial or judicial activities. It had no religious function.

Archeologists believe that the Basilica Ulpia might also have taken over the functions of the Atrium Libertatis – a building where the ceremonies for the emancipation of slaves took place –, which was destroyed to make room for the construction of Trajan’s Forum.

Only fragments of columns, cornices and bas-reliefs remain today.

Trajan’s Column

Trajan’s Column is the most famous – and best preserved – monument in Trajan’s Forum.

Dimensions

Nearly 40 meters high, this huge Doric column built entirely of Carrara marble was probably intended to recall the height of the area that had to be excavated to allow the construction of the Forum.

Bas-relief

But the column is most famous for its 200 meters long bas-relief retracing the military campaigns of Trajan in Dacia. The frieze of the column is divided into 155 scenes featuring over 2500 characters! The Emperor is represented 59 times. The scenes depicted on the column are obviously an amazing source of information for historians regarding the habits and customs of the Romans at the beginning of the 2^nd century AD.

While all turns (= spiral, winding) of the bas-relief seem to have the same proportions, it’s actually just an optical effect. The scenes carved at the bottom of the column are smaller than those carved at the top, so that they all appear the same size to the observer at the foot of the monument.

Statue of St. Peter

Originally surmounted by a bronze statue of Trajan – which disappeared during the Middle Ages – Trajan’s Column has been crowned since the 16^th century by a statue of Saint Peter.

Staircase

While the column may look full, the inside of the monument is actually hollow. The pedestal houses a funerary chamber where the urns containing the ashes of Trajan and his wife Plotina (now extinct) were placed during Antiquity. The column also houses a spiral staircase (185 steps) leading to the top.

Trajan’s Market

Built in terrace-tiers, Trajan’s Market first served as a foundation for the Quirinal hill, excavated to provide the space necessary for the construction of the forum.

This imposing construction – considered by some to be the ancestor of our modern shopping centers – probably housed nearly 150 businesses and boutiques on the lower floors, as well as administrative offices on the upper floors.

Today, Trajan’s Market are home to the Museum of the Imperial Forums. The museum gives visitors the opportunity to explore the Market, but also to discover models of ancient buildings as well as vestiges found on the imperial forums.

Access

Where are Trajan’s Forum & Trajan’s Column?

To get to the Trajan’s Forum, head for Via dei Fuori Imperiali, a few steps from the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

The nearest metro stops are Vittorio Emanuele on line A and Colosseo on line B. Many buses also stop in Piazza Venezia, just 300 meters from Trajan’s Forum.

Visiting Trajan’s Forum & Trajan’s Market

While visitors can visit Trajan’s Market, which now houses the Museum of the Imperial Forums (€9.50 full price), the rest of Trajan’s Forum is unfortunately not accessible to the public. Visitors can therefore only admire Trajan’s Column from afar.

👉 Looking for tips and recommendations? Here are all the Captain’s suggestions!

🛏️ Accommodation : to book your accommodation in Rome, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Booking:
– the best hostels
– the best affordable hotels
– the best mid-range hotels
– the best high-end hotels

🎟️ Activities: as for booking visits and tourist activities, Captain Ulysses recommends three websites: GetYourGuide , Tiqets and Civitatis. Guided tours, cruises, skip-the-line tickets, tourist activities… there’s plenty to choose from!

🎫 Citypass: if you are staying in Rome for several days, it may be worth investing in the Roma Pass or the Omnia Card . As well as entry to some of the capital’s most iconic sites, these passes include access to public transport.

🚐 Transfers: if you want to arrive in Rome serenely, you can book your transfer from the airport to the city centre in advance. A car will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the city. For more information: transfers in Rome.

🚌 Local transport: Rome has a comprehensive public transport system: metro, bus and tram. Access to public transport is included in the Roma Pass and the Omnia Card. If you wish, you can also opt for a hop-on hop-off bus tour which stops at all the top tourist attractions in Rome (audio guide included).

✈️ Flights and trains: to book your flights to Rome, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Skyscanner. You’ll be able to compare countless offers to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possible.
For flights as well as trains and buses, the Captain recommends Omio.

Credits
Ade Russell | Kyle Sorkness | Thomas Hackle | Su Lin