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Arch of Septimius Severus (Roman Forum)

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Arch of Septimius Severus (Roman Forum)

What it is

The Arch of Septimius Severus stands at the northwestern edge of the Roman Forum, close to the base of the Capitoline Hill. It's a white marble triumphal arch dedicated in 203 AD to mark Emperor Septimius Severus's military victories over the Parthians. The reliefs on the arch depict scenes from those campaigns, and it's one of the better-preserved monuments in the Forum, still carrying its original inscription. Look closely at the inscription and you'll notice an erased section: it originally named Severus's son Geta, whose name was chiselled out after his brother Caracalla had him killed and ordered his memory wiped from public monuments.

Getting there

The arch sits inside the Roman Forum archaeological area, walkable from central Rome. From Piazza Venezia it's about a 10-minute walk down Via dei Fori Imperiali. From Termini station, it's roughly 20-25 minutes on foot, or a short ride on the metro (Colosseo stop on Line B) followed by a walk of a few minutes.

How much time to allow

You'll only need a few minutes to view the arch itself, but it's one stop within the wider Forum, which typically takes visitors 1.5 to 3 hours to walk through properly.

When to go

The Forum gets busy by mid-morning, especially in spring and summer, and there's little shade across the site. Arriving close to opening time or visiting in the late afternoon tends to mean smaller crowds and cooler conditions. Since the arch stands in an open, exposed area, a hat and water are worth carrying in warmer months.

What to combine it with

The arch is essentially part of a single visit to the Roman Forum, and the Temple of Saturn and Temple of Vesta are both just a couple of minutes' walk away within the same site. The Capitoline Museums are about 0.2km off, up on the Capitoline Hill, and make a natural next stop if you want to continue indoors after the ruins.

Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

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Good to visit alongside

Temple of Saturn

Temples & religious sites

Temple of Saturn

The Temple of Saturn is the ruin of an ancient Roman temple standing at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, at the western end of the Roman Forum. Dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and wealth, it is traditionally said to have been first built in 497 BC, though ancient sources themselves disagree on its history.

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Roman Forum

Parks & gardens

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a rectangular plaza that once served as the political, economic, and religious center of ancient Rome, originally used as a marketplace. Today the remains of temples, public buildings, and triumphal arches are scattered across the site, letting visitors walk through ruins that were once the everyday living space of Roman citizens.

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Capitoline Museums

Museums & galleries

Capitoline Museums

The Capitoline Museums are an art and archaeology museum complex atop Rome's Capitoline Hill, run by the city of Rome as its flagship municipal museum. The main buildings, Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo, face each other across Piazza del Campidoglio, a square designed by Michelangelo, and house an extensive collection of ancient Roman sculptures and artifacts.

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Temple of Vesta

Temples & religious sites

Temple of Vesta

The Temple of Vesta is a circular structure surviving in the Roman Forum, where the sacred flame symbolizing Rome's wellbeing was once kept. Unlike most rectangular Roman temples, it follows a round tholos plan, though only a few columns remain today, leaving visitors to imagine its original form.

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Imperial fora

Heritage & monuments

Imperial fora

The Imperial Fora are a group of public squares built successively by Roman rulers over roughly 150 years, from 46 BC to 113 AD. Starting with the Forum of Caesar, emperors including Augustus, Nerva, and Trajan each added their own namesake forum, together forming Rome's political, administrative, and commercial center from the late Republic through the Empire.

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Altare della Patria

Museums & galleries

Altare della Patria

The Altare della Patria is a white marble monument standing between Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill, built from 1885 to 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. Designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, it's also known locally as the Vittoriano.

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