The Forums of Augustus, Caeser, Nerva, Forum of Vespasian, also know as the Temple of Peace, and the Forum of Trajan and Trajan's Market all form the archeological area of the Imperial Forums of Rome. Found between the hills of the Quirinale-Viminale at north, Palatino at south, Capitolino to the west and the hills of the Velia to the east, on what was once swamp valley.

In fact, many small water streams crossed through it, of which one, during the cleaning up of the valley in the king's era, became the Cloaca Massima. The name Forum, is most likely derived from Latin foras meaning outside, because it was outside of the residential zone.

Imperial Forums

The land was once both a public and private meeting place for the locals of the surrounding hills, and very similar to a marketplace with shops, tabernacles, basilicas and porticoes. In the Republican age the markets transferred to other areas. With Augustus, but perhaps even earlier with the regulating plan willed by Caesar, the area was transformed into a monumental city square. The juridical administrative activity moved along the area of the Imperial Forums and into other places, continuously losing importance up until the point of being disintegrated at the end of the III century.

The honorary column of the Emperor Foca (608) was the last monument to be erected.

After, a complete defacing took place, determining the dilapidation of many buildings, many families of medieval barons, like the Frangipane, constructed their towers on the more stable ruins and also renovated some of the churches by uniting them. The area became a pasture for animals and it is for this that it is called Campo Vaccino or Cow Field.

Excavations began at the end of 700' thanks to archaeology although being pushed more towards the methodical research in the 19th century before the Roman Capitol. But it was after 1870 that the research was further pushed and the excavations of Rudolf Lancini completed the discovery of the area.Archaeologist G.Boni began the most profound phase of the excavations in 1898, penetrating down to the archaic stratus of primitive Roma.

Research and excavations still continue today, found along the road that takes you from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum, and offer excellent answers in revealing useful information to the most curious.