Rome, Italy: Roman Forum

In its heyday, Rome ruled a vast empire that stretched from Scotland to Egypt. The Roman Forum was the political, religious, and commercial heart of the city. Rome's most important monuments, temples and halls of justice were built here. As Rome's empire expanded, these few acres of land near the Tiber became the navel of the civilized world. All roads did lead to Rome. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.