I finally made it to (near) the forum today.  I've been reading a book about Michaelangelo's Rome, and wanted to see the Piazza on the Capitoline Hill, which he designed.  Forum is just beside it, as is the hideous monument to Victor Emmanuel.

Piazza Campadoglio, designed by Michaelangelo

looking into the forum

Church of Santi Luka e Martina

The altar in the Church of Santi Luca e Martina features a Raphael painting of St. Luke painting a picture of the Virgin Mary.  This here is a copy - The original is being restored.

In a crypt underneath

Looking up through a grate from the crypt toward the dome

the dome

 In the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli:  Supposedly a Roman Emperor saw a vision of a woman holding a baby in this spot, and the woman said "This baby is the son of God."

Tomb on right (this is the back of the church)

Michaelangelo designed this tomb for the son of one of his friends.  

Bernini designed this pulpit

At Christmas they put a creche scene in here.

The steps up to the church