The Imperial Fora are a complex of buildings and monumental squares built between 46 B.C.E. and 113 C.E. The idea for the Fora began with Julius Caesar who, in 46 B.C.E., was the first to create a new square, at the time considered simply an addition to the Republican Forum. Following Caesar’s Forum came the Forum of Augustus, that of Nerva (also known as the Transitory Forum) and Trajan’s Forum. Together these archaeological areas represent an organic complex known as the Imperial Fora which extends between the Campidoglio and the Quirinale to the north east of via dei Fori imperiali.
In 1932 Mussolini ordered the building of a wide boulevard between piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, which destroyed and covered many of the fora: while a large part of them have been brought to the light today but only Trajan’s Market is open to the public. There is little left of Trajan’s Forum except for some columns from the Basilica Ulpia and Trajan’s Column. Three columns in Augustus’ Forum still stand in the south east corner along with a 30m high retaining wall that offered protection against fire. A great part of Nerva’s Forum is underground today but the remains of a temple dedicated to Minerva can still be seen. The most visible remains of Caesar’s Forum are the three columns on the other side of via dei Fori Imperiali.
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