This striking museum brings to life the Mercati di Traiano , emperor Trajan's great 2nd-century market complex, while also providing a fascinating introduction to the Imperial Forums with multimedia displays, explanatory panels and a smattering of archaeological artefacts.
Sculptures, friezes and the occasional bust are set out in rooms opening onto what was once the market's Great Hall. But more than the exhibits, the real highlight here is the chance to explore the echoing ruins of the vast complex. The three-storey hemicycle that housed the markets is in remarkably good shape and it doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to picture it full of traders selling everything from oil and vegetables to flowers, silks and spices.
Rising above the markets is the Torre delle Milizie , a 13th-century red-brick tower.
