...about using the forum for cutting across and saving oneself all that walking! The last time, we chose a hotel by the Arc of Janus (forum Boarium) precisely because we could enter the forum through the back of the Basilica Julia. Even the Imperial Fora were free and it was a great pleasure to stroll at will in the Fora of Augustus and Trajan...In the evenings we'd climb up the Capitoline by the (semi) Via Sacra...Gotta love old Rome's hilly configuration.

This reverting to fees might be a seasonal thing only...Let's hope so! Back in the 80's I bought a book about the long-term plans for the whole central ancient areas, namely, creating an archaeological park open and free that would include the original forum, the imperial fora, the Capitoline, Palatine and baths of Caracalla. It won't be in my lifetime, but one of the things they started doing (in the 90's) was halting traffic in the Via dei Fori Imperiali on Sundays, late afternoon and evening,to get Italians used to alternative routes. It was wonderful rambling there, so quiet!!!

Still, while free and open is nice, the excavations and upkeep aren't cheap and summer crowds are just too tempting a source not to exploit.