The last great imperial forum

Trajan's Forum is the last and the grandest of Rome's Imperial Forums, inaugurated in 112 AD and funded with the spoils of the Dacian Wars. Beside it stand the famous Trajan's Markets, an imposing multi-level complex on the slopes of the Quirinale, often described as "the world's oldest shopping mall" though in reality it housed mostly offices and administrative activities.

Together they form one of the most fascinating sites of imperial Rome, dominated by the magnificent Trajan's Column, an absolute masterpiece of ancient sculpture.

The architect: Apollodoro di Damasco

The complex was designed by Apollodoro di Damasco, the greatest architect and engineer of the age, in the service of the emperor Trajan. His work married function with magnificence: monumental squares, the great Basilica Ulpia, two libraries (one Greek, one Latin) and the multi-storey markets, ingeniously built into the slope of the hill.

Trajan's Column

The most celebrated monument is Trajan's Column, standing roughly 30 metres tall and entirely decorated with a spiral frieze that tells, like an ancient comic strip, the story of Trajan's military campaigns against the Dacians. At the top, since 1587, stands a statue of San Pietro that replaced the original one of the emperor. It is one of the most extraordinary works to have survived from antiquity, and we devote a separate guide to it, Trajan's Column.

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The Museum of the Imperial Forums

Today Trajan's Markets house the Museum of the Imperial Forums, the only museum dedicated to the architecture of the Imperial Forums. Across its monumental spaces you'll find fragments, sculptures and reconstructions that help you picture how these sites looked in the days of ancient Rome. The visit thus combines the experience of the original spaces with a high-quality museum itinerary.

What you can see for free and what you can't

Part of Trajan's Forum and Trajan's Column can be seen for free from the street (Via dei Fori Imperiali and Via Quattro Novembre). To enter Trajan's Markets and the Museum of the Imperial Forums, however, you'll need a ticket. You'll find all the details in our guide to tickets and opening hours.

How much time you need

The museum and the markets take about 1–1.5 hours to visit. Add a look at the Column and the Forum from outside, and perhaps Piazza Venezia and the Vittoriano right next door, and you can comfortably fill half a day in the heart of ancient Rome.

Frequently asked questions

What are Trajan's Markets? An imposing complex of multi-level Roman buildings, constructed on the slopes of the Quirinale in the early 2nd century AD. Today they house the Museum of the Imperial Forums. They are often described as "the world's oldest shopping mall".

What is Trajan's Forum? It is the last and largest of Rome's Imperial Forums, inaugurated in 112 AD and designed by Apollodoro di Damasco, with the Basilica Ulpia, two libraries and the famous Trajan's Column.

Can you see Trajan's Column for free? Yes, Trajan's Column can be seen for free from the street. To enter Trajan's Markets and the Museum of the Imperial Forums, however, you'll need a ticket.

How much time do you need to visit Trajan's Markets? About 1–1.5 hours for the museum and the markets; more if you add a look at the Forum, the Column and nearby attractions such as Piazza Venezia.

Who built Trajan's Forum? It was commissioned by the emperor Trajan and designed by the architect Apollodoro di Damasco in the early 2nd century AD.

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Article #272 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026