Basilica of Pompeii, Roman basilica ruins in Pompei, Italy

The Basilica of Pompeii stands in the southwest corner of the Forum, measuring 55 by 24 meters. Its east front has five doors between tuff piers, opening onto a portico and the open chalcidicum. Inside, a central nave is ringed by 28 columns, with a raised tribunal at the west end.

Built between 130 and 120 BC as part of the monumental redesign of Pompeii's forum, the basilica required demolishing houses and shops and filling a hillside slope to level the ground. It served as a court and a venue for commercial dealings. Buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, it was excavated by the Bourbons from 1813, with work continuing intermittently until 1950; graffiti mentioning the basilica later confirmed its function.

The walls display numerous Latin inscriptions and graffiti that reveal the daily concerns of Roman citizens. These markings record business dealings, election notices, and personal messages that people left behind.

Access to the basilica is through Via Marina, which leads clearly into the archaeological site. It is best to visit early in the morning when crowds are lighter and you can see the details of the ruins more easily.

The tribunal podium, about two metres high, was reached by a wooden staircase, not a stone one, and two staircases from it led down to a barrel-vaulted room lit by two windows. Six Corinthian columns framed the area where justice was administered.