Roman Forum, Rome

The Roman Forum was the civic and political heart of Roman Empire, tracing nowadays, with its few columns and ruined walls, 12 centuries of history .
This is the area between the Palatine and Capitoline hill. The Forum had many functions: it was in the same time the reference for daily life, politics and religion.
In about 550 BC this valley became a real square at the centre of a town. The last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, was thrown out in 509BC and the Consulate was instituted. The Republican era had begun: Rome began to develop into an empire.