The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum, is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome.

The rectangular-shaped area, sited on low-lying land between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, was home to many of the ancient city’s most impressive temples and monuments. Today, the Roman Forum is one of the most famous tourist sites in the world, attracting more than 4.5 million visitors annually.

The Forum was considered the heart of Rome. While there were many other forums in ancient Rome, the Roman Forum was the most significant. Several important buildings, statues and monuments were located in the Forum. Some temples were built to honor men, and others were dedicated to gods or goddesses.