An epic sunset at the Roman Forum |Rome, Italy

Although the Colosseum is allegedly the main attraction in Rome, Italy, it was in the Roman Forum, surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings dated from the 7th century BC, that I felt all the awesomeness of Rome. It is just amazing to be able to, today, stand beside all these buildings where the ancient romans gathered for commercial, political, judicial and religious pursuits.

The Roman Forum (Italian: Foro Romano) was for centuries the center of Roman public life: the site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city’s great men.

There is so much information to know about this place that a guided tour is highly recommended. For instance, these are just the buildings that appear in the photograph above (left to right): the Church of Santi Luca e Martina, the Temple of Saturn (the first temple in the Roman Forum), the Arch of Septimius Severus and Curia Julia (behind the temple), the remains of the Basilica Aemilia, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the Temple of Caesar.

Temple of Saturn | Roman Forum, Rome, Italy

I am so happy that at the end of the day, on top of all the awesome buildings and things that I saw and learned during my visit to the Romam Forum, there was this epic sunset casting this stunning unique golden light in the sky. It certainly closed the day perfectly.