Portico of Octavia

Originally built by Augustus in the 1st century BC and named for his sister Octavia, this grand colonnaded entrance once led to a complex housing temples and libraries; its surviving arch was later incorporated into a medieval fish market and church. Its position at the edge of the Jewish Ghetto, one of the oldest continuously inhabited Jewish communities in Europe, adds a layer of more recent history to the ancient ruins.

Lit up at night, the columns take on a striking, almost theatrical presence against the surrounding neighborhood. Free to view and rarely crowded, it's an easy stop for anyone walking between the Theatre of Marcellus and the Ghetto's restaurants.