Italy is such a widely diverse place, and the larger cities show just how true that fact is. In Italy, while there are many different areas to visit and see, I would highly suggest a visit to the Roman Forum, located in the heart and center of Rome itself.
While Rome does house masterpieces that many people think of—whether it is a thought of architecture or fine art or the secrets to ancient history—the Forum is by far the one that deserves the thousands of tourists that it brings in each day, as it shows a bit of each of these ideas. The area that is houses is not that large, in comparison to some other monumental structures or the breadth of an entire city, and thus is a perfect place for tourists to gather and for the native Italians to avoid. This was something we found most interesting. Shouldn’t we see just as many Italians who live in this city also admiring the beauty that is within these ruins?
When we manuvered about the Forum with our small tour group, we were able to notice many different tourists—each speaking many different languages—stopping to take pictures and getting in lines to see the most beautiful and well known of sites. There were not so many native Italians as one would expect, however. Yes, of course, many of the tour guides were leading people around, but we were unable to determine just how many people our age were Italian groups learning about Italian things. We have theorized that this is because many if not most people born in Rome have seen all of these different majesties all of their lives. These buildings are no longer news to them as they are to tourist groups like ours. The native Italians have grown up with these monuments, grown old with these monuments, and shared so many memories connected to them. While a tour guide of ours was kind enough to share a story of taking her grandchildren to a museum and looking out over the tallest balcony with them in order to point out and name each and every building, we theorize that she is not the only one to share these experiences in this way. We believe this is how many Italians grow up when so close to these historical sites and buildings. Many of these people see the interest in the Roman Forum, but have managed to get past the magic of seeing it for the very first time—which is something that plagues many tourists. Even if it is a foreigner they might see the magic like we but that magic might off after time and it can become another part of the crazy traffic in Rome.
The Forum is believed to have been founded along the time span of many years beginning before the common era. The Roman Forum is one of the oldest sites in Rome and in Italy that shows the native history and richness of the culture before our modern times. While the traditional founding of Rome is believed to be in 753 BCE, the Forum would have been constructed after the founding. We do not know exactly when it started, but we believe it was worked on now and again with many architectural pieces added on with time before it was mostly abandoned around the 8th century CE and beyond, and that is why it looks today how it does. The Forum has fallen far past disrepair, and yet the people around it find no interest in restoring it to its old glory. The Roman Forum is to be learned from, not necessarily completely fixed up. There are archeological digs across the Forum, and many times the stones that paved the roads have been dug up and replanted in an attempt to find out what history was happening beneath them.
During the Republic, the Forum itself was used in many different aspects. There were multiple buildings that had been erected and used for different reasons. Some shrines, some temples, some meeting places, all important to the society from which the city of Rome was created. The Forum served many purposes and was the supposed center of the city of Rome for a long while during both the Republic and Empire of Rome. Throughout the Roman Forum, the government offices, law courts, shops, banks, and gathering places all made sure to draw many into the city from outside of it. The rules and laws were harsh in many cases, but the opportunities afforded to those who were Roman citizens even included being given free rations of bread. Who would actively turn down a thing like free food?
The Forum in Rome is a place of such significance in the history of the city that even today, people grow up hearing stories and learning about the meaning of these decrepit buildings. The mythologies and fables travel from old to young and then those repeat the cycle as the years go by. It was a great opportunity to witness the beginnings of these stories, and to hear from many Romans just how much these buildings within the Forum mean to them. We are able to understand, now, the importance of keeping these buildings in their current condition, as well as why they are so beloved and cared for to keep them as preserved as they are. We do not really know how long these beautiful ruins are going to last so why would not want to go see them.
Tags: Study Abroad