The ancient Roman scene of Julius Caesar’s murder is now a popular tourist destination
This week, tourists will be able to visit four previously closed temples in the historic center of Rome, including the one where the most renowned Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, was killed.
The Associated Press has reported that the temples, referred to as the “Sacred Area,” situated in Largo Argentina (Argentine Square), have origins dating back to the third century B.C. Luxury jeweler Bulgari has partially funded the opening, providing financial support for the installation of accessible walkways and lighting.
The site is open for visitors on a daily basis, with the exception of Mondays and certain major holidays. General admission tickets are priced at 5 euros, which is equivalent to approximately US$5.50.
The location boasts four temples that are reportedly devoted to four goddesses, one of whom is the goddess of chance, Fortuna. Additionally, Pompey’s Curia, a spacious rectangular chamber that witnessed the notorious assassination of Caesar in 44 B.C., is also found on the site.
Displayed at the location are various artifacts, among them a partial stone head that depicts one of the temple’s goddesses. Traces of travertine pavers, which were laid down by Emperor Domitian in 80 A.D. after a catastrophic fire, can still be seen as well.
According to Travel Pulse, during the opening ceremony on Monday, Claudio Parisi Presicce, Rome’s foremost cultural heritage official and an archaeologist, hailed the site as “one of the best-preserved remains of the Roman Republic.”
In the late 1920s, during Benito Mussolini’s rule, archaeologists unearthed the temples again after they had been hidden for centuries by a palace and other structures from the medieval era.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of its developments. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all. Evie can be reached at evieblanco@detourxp.com.