Rome - Palatine Hill and Roman Forum

Next to the Colosseum is the site of the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum excavations. This is a huge site and well worth exploring. The ticket to the Colosseum also gets you into the site. Be warned - it's a large area and quite tiring. However what is there gives a truly exciting idea of what the area must have been like in its heyday - truly awesome.


I found myself thinking contradictory thoughts. Given the obvious size and splendour of the place, it is surprising that effectively so little has survived. On the other hand, given the history of Rome after its collapse, it is surprising that so much has actually survived. It must be an enigma for archaeologists, so tantalising with so much being there and yet so much also missing.

Some of the highlights for me where:

• The sheer size of the place, especially the Forum.


• Walking along the original Roman streets where countless others had walked, including Emperors and other members of Roman society. Mind you, if you want to twist an ankle, try walking along these streets at anything above a slow pace and you're sure to succeed. I have no idea how those people managed it in their sandals etc.


• Visualising just what an awesome and impressive place this would have been to anyone who lived during its heyday, especially people from country towns and villages and from Rome's provinces.


• The beautiful line and symmetry with the Colosseum at one end, and also the Circus Maximus on another boundary. In my photo above the Colosseum is visible at the right end of the picture (especially when enlarged by clicking on the picture). The line from the left end of the photo to the irght side is actually straight, it is the distortion of the photography that introduced the curvature into the picture.


• The houses of Livia and Augustus, and also the various remains of other houses and palaces.


• The buildings and works that covered multiple storeys. This was not a city of single level buildings, but incorporated structures of many levels that intertwined with each other. Very clever engineering.

In other words I found a lot to enjoy in the place. It really exuded awe and power, most of which simply does not translate into photos, and certainly not mine. Here are a couple anyway for what it's worth.