One of our greatest days in Rome was spent at the Roman Forum. It was first developed in the 7th century BC and fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, in its heyday, it was “the scene of public meetings, law courts, and gladiatorial combats in republican times and was lined with shops and open-air markets.” Today, visitors can still venture to the site of amazing history in the marshy ground between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. Much of the original stone and marble was plundered, but we’re talking about a country where millennia of civilization is layered upon itself. It’s always a fine balance, that dichotomy of history and modern, and ensuring there is space and resources for the people who live there now. I’m glad it’s not my decision, you know?
The Three Adventurers 