View over the ancient ruins

The small footbridge before you offers a lovely, unobstructed view of Trajan’s Forum. It was the last imperial forum to be built in Rome, back in the 1st century AD. In the wake of his victory over the Dacians, the emperor set out to build a forum that would surpass all others, and used part of the spoils of war to do so. Let’s take a closer look. On your left are the ruins of the Basilica Ulpia and, behind it, there’s Trajan’s Column. All that remains of this basilica, built in 112 AD, are the few fragments of the columns you see. Meanwhile, the Trajan column behind it has stood the test of time, famed for its spiral bas-reliefs depicting the emperor’s victorious battles. The huge arched monument opposite you is Trajan’s market. Built in the first century AD, this complex of shops and warehouses is believed to be the first covered market in history! Since 2007, the market has been home to the Museum of the Imperial Fora , where you can learn how it all worked and get a clearer idea of what the buildings here looked like back then.