As you walk from the Colosseum north and branch onto Via Alessandrina, the first major forum on your right is the Forum of Augustus.
The stairs and column stumps in the center once belonged to the 2nd-century BC Temple of Mars Ultor (Temple of Mars the Avenger).
When it’s open, you can follow a catwalk running along the forum’s edge to get a better view.
For the summer of 2014, to celebrate the 2,000th year since the death of Augustus Ceasar (who died 19 August in AD 14), the city has inaugurated a special nighttime sound and light show.
The 40-minute program features music and an audio program (in 5 languages) and a laser light show that ingeniously paints the ruins with the outlines of the temples and other structures as they were in their glory days.
So come back later for the show, but for now move on to the next, more dramatic set of ruins to the north: The Markets of Trajan. more
Piazza del Grillo 1/Via dei Fori Imperiali
Private info site: www.capitolium.org
Tues–Sun 9am–7pm
€6.50
Bus: 53, 85, 87, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810
Metro: Colosseo (B)
Hop-on/hop-off: Colosseo
Planning your day: Even if you walk the catwalk (when it's open) the Foro di Augusto will only take about 5 minutes to peruse.
You can stroll the entire Via dei Fori Imperiali in about 20–30 minutes. Add another 30–45 minutes if you're going to explore Trajan's Markets.
Take a guided tour of The Imperial Forums with one of our partners:
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Piazza del Grillo 1/Via dei Fori Imperiali
Private info site: www.capitolium.org
Tues–Sun 9am–7pm
€6.50
Bus: 53, 85, 87, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810
Metro: Colosseo (B)
Hop-on/hop-off: Colosseo