The Roman Forum
For centuries, the Roman Forum was a marshy and unpleasant gully that the Romans used as a cemetery. The Etruscan kings finally drained it and the resulting space became used for public events. Walking through the forum is like being in a movie. You expect to see a victorious Caesar arriving through the triumphal arch to a cheering crowd. The Temple of Vesta, Trajan’s column, and the Mamertine Prison are also unforgettable.