Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Rome Mercatus Traiani (Trajan's Market)

Mercatus Traiani (Trajan's Market)

This ancient market is often referred to as the oldest shopping mall in the world.

Rome, Italy

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Mercatus Traiani (Trajan’s Market)   Zello
Mercatus Traiani (Trajan’s Market)   Soham Banerjee
Marchés de Trajan - vue sur le Forum de Trajan   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Trajan’s Market at night.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Mercatus Traiani (Trajan’s Market)   Sailko
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Mercatus Traiani (Trajan’s Market)   Greg O'Beirne
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Trajan is considered one of the greatest Roman emperors, having expanded the empire to its largest size. While leading the conquest of Dacia, he ordered the construction of a large forum around 105 CE. The most integral part of the forum was a market. It's believed the project was designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, an architect and close associate of Trajan. Today, it's often referred to as the world's oldest shopping mall.

It's believed that shops were built in a multi-level structure containing administrative offices and a library. The street on the upper level was named Via Biberatica, after the Latin word for "drink", biber. This suggests that there were numerous drinking establishments along this level. During imperial Rome, the market sold a variety of products including fruits, vegetables, fish, wine, oil, and spices. Free wheat was also distributed to civilians once. 

During the Middle Ages, the complex was renovated into a fortress and a defensive tower called the Torre delle Milizie was added. A convent was also constructed around the 16th-century but was demolished in the early 20th-century to restore the Roman site.

Related Tags

History & Culture Markets Design Roman
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

philoursmars, rbenn250

  • philoursmars
  • rbenn250

Published

October 26, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.ancient.eu/article/616/trajans-market/
  • https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/ap-ancient-rome/a/forum-and-market-of-trajan
  • https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/history-trajans-market/
Mercatus Traiani (Trajan's Market)
94 Via IV Novembre
Rome, 00187
Italy
41.895641, 12.486248
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mamertine Prison

Rome, Italy

miles away

Vespa Museum

Rome, Italy

miles away

Lacus Curtius

Rome, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

Italy

Places 149
Stories 25

Nearby Places

Mamertine Prison

Rome, Italy

miles away

Vespa Museum

Rome, Italy

miles away

Lacus Curtius

Rome, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

Italy

Places 149
Stories 25

Related Places

  • Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea

    Caesarea, Israel

    Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea

    Built by a king and rebuilt by an emperor, this aqueduct transported water for 1,200 years to this ancient Mediterranean hub.

  • The inscription runs along the building.

    Rome, Italy

    Casa di Lorenzo Manilio

    A 15th-century monumental Latin inscription on this house celebrates Lorenzo Manilio's love for Rome.

  • Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Roman Relief on Rue du Saint-Esprit

    An ancient Roman relief beautifully preserved on the façade of a house.

  • Malton, England

    Jet Bear

    This small figurine of a bear tells us a lot about the value of jewels and funerary practices in Roman Britannia.

  • A soloist performing at the amphitheater of Bosra

    Busra, Syria

    Black Amphitheater of Bosra

    One of the world's best-preserved Roman amphitheaters is also one of the most unusual; it's made of black volcanic rock.

  • The archaeological site in Sisak, Croatia.

    Sisak, Croatia

    Siscia in Situ

    One of the major cities of Late Roman provinces, now in ruins of small scale.

  • A closer look at the excavation, from the left side of Kandlerova ul

    Pula, Croatia

    Quarter of Saint Theodore

    An excavation site that signified Hercules in Pula, and a glimpse into the city's Roman history.

  • This section of columns still stand to their original height.

    Durrës, Albania

    Durrës Byzantine Forum

    One of the best examples of a Byzantine period monument in Albania.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.