Naples tour

The Macellum, or covered market, was built in the Imperiai age, with an elegant entrance proceeded by a small portico of marble columns facing the Forum. Outside the square, shops were situated on the northern side, with small shops or tabernae on the inner southern side. At the centre of the uncovered area there is, as in other similar buildings, a circular dome-shaped construction tholos with a water basin. Towards the end of the building there is a tabernacle with two statues of members of the Imperiai family, and on the right side, an area with a gutter for the water destined for the fish-market. This temple was built in the year 3 A.D. by Marcus Tullius and dedicated to the Imperiai cult. Access to the tempie is by means of a flight of steps which reaches the 'ara' and finally the vestible, decorated with six Corinthian columns. In the side walls there are two niches which contained statues, one of which was of Augustus.