Looking for something different? Look no further! Right in the middle of Rome, just a few steps from the Colosseum, there is a new museum called the Museo della Forma Urbis – what is this all about?!
1. The Temple of Peace
The ruins of a temple, the Temple of Peace, dedicated to the Roman goddess of peace Pax, are still visible walking along via dei Fori Imperiali.
A fine monument financed by Vespasian through his looting during his wars with the Jewish people.
Few remains can still be seen today but what we do know is that a massive marble map of Rome was attached to one of its walls – the Forma Urbis Romae or Severan Marble Plan.
2. The Forma Urbis Romae
What is the Forma Urbis Romae?
Commissioned between 203 and 211 AD during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, this magnificent map of marble depicts the city of Rome with great precision, showing temples, baths, private properties, and streets.
Great monuments such as the Colosseum and Circus Maximum are easily recognisable from the fragments of the Forma Urbis which have been found during excavations and scholars have been working over centuries to piece them together, it is generally thought around 10% of the original map have been located and identified.
The Museum of the Forma Urbis
For years, the fragments of the marvelous marble map were not visible to any visitor and were scattered in various locations, being shown only occasionally.
This museum, which was opened only in 2024, has finally given a home to all the pieces of the Forma Urbis – and a beautiful one. It allows visitors from 10:00 to 19:00 in the summer; it’s closed on Mondays and has a small fee to enter.
As you amble through the museum dedicated to the map, the Forma Urbis is beneath you under glass flooring, and Giovanni Battista Nolli’s 18th-century copy of a map which has been superimposed on it helping visitors visualise how much of the ancient city has been covered by other buildings over the centuries, many of which still remain.
This is more commonly known as the Nolli Map.
After visiting the museum, we stroll through the beautiful gardens, which are adorned with incredible archaeological and architectural jewels.
3. Archaeological Park of the Celio
The setting of this park couldn’t be better. One of Rome’s famous seven hills, the Caelian Hill (Celio in Italian) includes the public park of Villa Celimontana and an array of churches, mosaics, picturesque streets, parks, and ancient Roman houses.
One of the best things about this park is that it’s free! And you can visit it from 07:00 in the morning, a spectacular part of Rome to be in as the sun rises. The park is not vast so you can easily visit all the main attractions in the vicinity.
What has scholars, archaeologists, and tour guides so very excited are the remains of a gargantuan temple dedicated to the emperor Claudius dating back to the 1st century.
The park occupies the northwestern sector of the Caelian Hill and you can easily reach it with numerous buses; the nearest metro is Colosseo on the B line or why not start at the top and walk down the Clivo di Scauro, an ancient Roman street which is stunning in itself where we also find the Roman Houses at Celio.
Access to the park is from Viale del Parco del Celio 20, Viale del Parco del Celio 22 and Clivo di Scauro 4.
What other sites can I visit close by?
We can find an enormous amount of exciting and less visited sites in the area. Some of the most important are the churches! Yes, Rome has so many but some are definitely more interesting than others.
In this area, you can easily reach the churches of Santo Stefano Rotondo and Santi Quattro Coronati, two absolutely fascinating sites, as well as the Basilica of San Clemente whose three levels make this one of Rome’s best underground sites.
We are also only a few minutes away from the Baths of Caracalla or take a stroll up to the Aventine Hill where you can enjoy a beautiful stroll in the rose garden (April-May, October).
To explore all this and more with an expert guide, be sure to contact us to create your perfect off-the-beaten-path adventure!
