The Forum at Pompeii

Built around the fourth century BC, during the Samnite era, the Forum of Pompeii was the heart of the ancient city. It served as its main public square and the centre of political, commercial, and religious life. It's one of the most impressive and well-preserved areas of the archaeological site. The Forum is a large rectangular open space, roughly 157 meters long and 38 meters wide, located in the southwestern part of the city. It was closed to wheeled traffic, making it a pedestrian-only zone paved with large stone slabs. The square was surrounded by a two-story colonnade (portico) that provided shade and shelter, with numerous important buildings facing onto it. The Forum was adorned with numerous statues of emperors, local benefactors, and important citizens, most mounted on pedestals (many of which remain, though the bronze statues themselves were lost). There were also honorary arches and equestrian statues. 

Major landmarks surrounding the Forum include the Temple of Jupiter, the Basilica, which served as the law court and business centre, the Temple of Apollo, one of the oldest religious buildings in Pompeii and the Macellum, the covered food market where meat and fish were sold.