Landmark
Begun under Emperor Domitian and completed and dedicated by his successor Nerva around 97 AD, this forum was squeezed into a narrow strip of land between two earlier fora, which explains its unusually elongated shape. Very little survives compared to its neighbors, but the remaining columned wall, known as the 'Colonnacce,' still carries detailed relief carvings depicting the goddess Minerva. Viewable for free from Via dei Fori Imperiali, it's a stop most visitors glance at while walking rather than seek out directly. It appeals to visitors with a deeper interest in the Imperial Fora who want the fuller picture beyond just the main Roman Forum.
✨ Reasons to go
💡 Good to know
⏱️ Typical visit
20 min
🕰️ Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
🚶 Walking intensity
Easy pace
What people say
"The Forum of Nerva was the fourth and smallest of the imperial fora. Its construction was started by Emperor Domitian before the year 85 AD, but officially completed and opened by his successor, Nerva, in 97 AD, hence its official name. The street, which the forum replaced, the Argiletum, had long served as a market area, especially for booksellers and cobblers; the new forum continued to serve as both a thoroughfare and as a monumental entrance to the larger Roman Fora."
— Sir
