Roman Forum

Why it is worth your time

The forum was laid out by Emperor Augustus in the 1st century. Among the ruins stands the 'pillar of shame', where wrongdoers were once chained. As an audio stop, it works best if you slow down here: look for the stonework, the surrounding streets and the way locals move around the landmark. It gives the route a clear story beat between the postcard sights and the smaller discoveries nearby.