Trajan's Markets and Trajan's Forum

Mercati Traiani
The imposing brick curve of the Markets of Trajan in Rome's Imperial Fori.

The world's first multi-level shopping mall gives unparalleled insight into the daily life of Ancient Rome

Trajan's Markets, the world's first multi-sotry shopping mall.
The Markets of Trajan, the world's first multi-story shopping mall. (Photo by Jebulon)

The Emperor Trajan built his markets in the AD 2nd century, and after being closed for years they've become the first of the Imperial Fori to reopen to the public (in 1998).

It now houses the Museo dei Fori Imperali—when it's open, that is. This is one of those Roman sights that has an annoying habit of closing "temporarily" for months or years at a stretch.

Inside the shopping mall at Trajan's Markets.
Inside the shopping mall at Trajan's Markets. (Photo by Carole Raddato)

You enter around the back side (on Via IV Novembre), into a grand bazaar hall lined by former market stalls with marble porticos and barrel-vaulted ceilings.

These now contain informative placards (in English) on each of the Imperial Fori plus some sculptural bits—most just fragments, but a few with remarkably sharp and well-preserved detailing.

Via Biberatica, an ancient Roman Street within the Trajan's Markets complex.
Via Biberatica is an ancient Roman street paved with flagstones and flanked by two-story buildings. (Photo by AlMare)

You get to wander the brief but evocative sections of Via Biberatica, the most intact ancient Roman street in the city.

Explore the four stories of 150 empty tabernae (shops) that made up the world’s first multilevel shopping mall.

Clamber up to the top terrace for a bird's eye panorama of the curving market and Forum of Trajan and Forum of Caesar across the street.

When it's open, you can also duck through a tunnel from here that leads under Via de Fori Imperiali to Trajan's Forum (if the tunnel's closed, you can still see it pretty well from the road).

Tips & links

Details
ADDRESS

Via IV Novembre 94 (near the western end of Via Nazionale)
tel. +39-06-679-0048 or +39-06-0608
www.mercatiditraiano.it

OPEN

Tues-Sun 9am-7pm

ADMISSION

€13

Roma Pass: Yes (free)

TRANSPORT

Bus: 117, 40, 60, 64, 70, 170, H, 53, 80, 85, 87, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810, N7, N8, N9, N15, N18
Metro: Colosseo (B) or Cavour (B)
Hop-on/hop-off: Piazza Venezia

TOURS
How long do Trajan's Markets take?

Planning your day: It takes about 30–45 minutes to wander the halls and empty corridors of the Trajan's Market area. The ticket office closes an hour before the site. » Rome itineraries

Trajan's Markets tours

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Mercati di Traiano e il Museo dei Fori Imperiali
ADDRESS

Via IV Novembre 94 (near the western end of Via Nazionale)
tel. +39-06-679-0048 or +39-06-0608
www.mercatiditraiano.it

OPEN

Tues-Sun 9am-7pm

ADMISSION

€13

Roma Pass: Yes (free)

TRANSPORT

Bus: 117, 40, 60, 64, 70, 170, H, 53, 80, 85, 87, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810, N7, N8, N9, N15, N18
Metro: Colosseo (B) or Cavour (B)
Hop-on/hop-off: Piazza Venezia

TOURS


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