The Tabularium is at the western extreme of the Forum Romanum, behind the Temple of Concord, the Temple of Vespasian and Titus and the Portico of the Dii Consentes. It is build on the side of the Capitoline Hill.

The Tabularium was build in 79 BC on initiative of the consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus as a part of the reconstruction efforts on the Capitolium after the fire of 83 BC. The architect was Lucius Cornelius. It was destined for the state archives (the “tabulae” were the public documents).

The building is constructed on the slope of the Capitoline Hill, on a massive supporting substructure to overcome the variations in ground level. The whole facade towards the Forum Romanum is 73.6m long. Inside the substructure is a corridor with six windows facing the Forum. The first floor has ten arches flanked by doric semicolumns. Half of arches are now closed. Inside is a corridor with vaulted ceiling. Originally there was a second floor with a portico of corinthian columns.

In the Middel Ages the Tabularium formed part of a fortress on the Capitoline Hill, later it was incorporated into the Palazzo Senatorio of which it is still a part.

The building is closed to the public. It is best seen from the stairway connecting the Forum Romanum and the Campidoglio.

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