Day 4 in Rome: Palatine Hill and Roman Forum | Espinosa on Board

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28th October 2017

Last two days ago we went to Roman Colosseum which is that’s our 2nd day in Rome and our original plan was to visit the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum on our 3rd day but it turns upside down when Raf needs to go to the Hospital and stayed there for a night but we we’re so glad he’s already fine now. We got home early this morning and took a few rest and decided to continue our tour. Toots and my mom stayed with Raf in the Hotel because he need to take more rest since we just got back from the Hospital and ME (Chad) together with my dad visited the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. It seems like it’s a Father and Son bonding, eh?

Palatine Hill

We first visited the Palatine Hill situated nearby the Forum but technically it is not part of the Roman Forum but from the tourist perspective they are effectively the same site. We bought our guided tour tickets when we visited the Roman Colosseum and you can continue your tour on the next days as long as you’ll bring the ticket with you so you won’t be bother to buy another ticket. The ticket gives you an entry to both and you’ll move between the two without realizing exactly where one ends and the other begins.

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A visit to Palatine Hill will definitely throw a light on the Roman empire that flourished , 40 meter high above the ground, is the place where the Roman empire was founded according to legends, massive columns and the brick wall, extruding porches, shattered structure signifies the civilization that is deep rooted in the history. Palatine hill cannot be missed by history lovers.

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Wandering among the ruins will definitely takes us to the past glory to witness such a magnificent structures and the empire that lived. The history is really impressive and endless.

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Roman Forum

Walking among the ancient ruins of the Forum in Rome is captivating and intriguing. To stand where Julius Caesar, and the Roman emperors stood, is an amazing thought. You really can’t quite grasp the size of this place unless you visit. It really makes you feel in awe of the architecture and history behind it all.

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Basilica Aemilia

This civil basilica was a two-storey portico, 100 metres long and was lined with shops. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, it was almost completely plundered for it’s precious marbles during the Renaissance.

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Temple of Castor and Pollux

Castor and Pollux were twin brothers, the sons of Zeus and Leda. Together they are known as the Dioscuri, also the twins of Gemini. As legend holds, these Heavenly Twins astoundingly appeared to Roman troops during an important battle against the Tarquins. The last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, waged war against the young Roman Republic in an attempt to regain his throne after being exiled. Roman dictator, Aulus Postumius Albus, promised to build a temple to the Dioscuri if Rome were victorious in the battle. On the battlefield, Castor and Pollux appeared as two horseman and aided the Romans to victory. Afterwards, the twins appeared again at the Roman Forum to announce the victory.

Holding true to promise, a temple was built to honour Castor and Pollux on the site of their appearance in the Roman Forum.

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This is the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano a rounded building and it was built in the early 4th century as a Roman temple.

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Here you can see Winged Victories carved into the spandrels (the space between the arch and rectangular enclosure).

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Have you been to Palatine Hill and Roman Forum too? How was it? Share your experience as well and let us know if we missed any in the comment section below.