Trajan's Market & Imperial Fora
Mercati di Traiano e Fori Imperiali
A semicircular, multi-storey commercial complex built in the early 2nd century AD, often called the world's first “shopping mall.” It overlooks Trajan's Column and the Imperial Fora.
Trajan's Market was built around AD 100–110, designed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. It was built into the slope of the Quirinal Hill. Its semicircular, multi-storey brick arcades once housed more than a hundred shops and offices. Today it is home to the Museum of the Imperial Fora, which displays sculptures and architectural fragments unearthed from the forums. From the upper terraces, you can look down over Trajan's Forum, Trajan's Column and the Forum of Augustus. If you don't want to go inside, you can view the site free of charge from the Via dei Fori Imperiali. Museum tickets are sold separately and are not included in the Colosseum combined ticket. It is about a 5-minute walk from Piazza Venezia.
Opening hours
09:30–19:30 (last entry 18:30)
Nearby sights
- Altare della Patria (Vittoriano)
- Roman Forum / Palatine Hill
- Capitoline Museums
- Church of the Gesù
- San Pietro in Vincoli
- Theatre of Marcellus
- Colosseum
- Mouth of Truth