Forum, Pompei (must see)

The Forum, a feature present in many Roman settlements, was a public space found at the heart of Pompeii. It forms a large, elongated rectangular plaza, surrounded by several of the town’s most significant buildings. From the southern end of the Forum, moving counterclockwise along its perimeter, you encounter the municipal offices and the Comitium, followed by the grand Building of Eumachia, the Temple of Vespasian, and the Sanctuary of the Public Lares on the eastern side. Continuing past the grain and food markets at the northeast corner and the northern Temple of Jupiter, you find the Temple of Apollo before finishing at the massive Basilica on the western side.

It is accurate to state that the Forum was the permanent centre of public life in Pompeii. It stood near the junction of major urban roads, linking Pompeii with Naples and the nearby settlement of Stabiae. Within the preserved ruins of the city, the Forum remains firmly integrated into the southwestern quadrant of the urban grid. This is due to large-scale development in the 2nd century BC, which permanently formalised, paved, and expanded the square, cementing it as the city’s civic, commercial, and religious core right up until the eruption.

Now an open, hard-packed archaeological plaza, the Forum area appears to have undergone many changes during the history of Pompeii. Prior to the earthquake of 62 AD, the floor was receiving an extensive upgrade, and it is still partially paved with fine white travertine stone. It is thought that a vibrant daily market was held in the middle of the open space. There are also a number of marble and tuff bases where statues once stood, as well as a half-finished suggestum — the Roman equivalent of a soapbox for public speaking.