Picnic Lunch in the Roman Forum

You probably can if very discreet. You realize that the forum now has restricted access and is part of the general admission for that area. Also, because of the general littering problem the police has been cracking down on picnics in public areas. Probably can not spread the cloth and get out the wine.

I don't think it is possible - the whole forum is an archeological site with pieces of marble and rock from ages ago lying around but you can't sit or step on them. They are all surrounded by barriers so that you can't step where you shouldn't, there are pathways to guide you around everything. So unless you plan to eat as you walk along, I can't imagine where you'd actually have a picnic at. If the day is nice and sunny and you want a nice picnic sitting on the grass, I'd suggest to head behind the Forum toward the river to the Circo Massimo - it is a big green area where you can sit and lay down and have a nice picnic with no one disturbing you (unless there is some type of demonstration or other event going on there the day you want to picnic).

AFAIK it is against local laws to eat picnics in archaeological sites/public monuments in Rome (as well as several other cities eg Florence). It is also illegal to sit on the steps of churches/public monuments let alone eat whilst you do so.

Nope. It's not a park, it's an archaeological site. You could probably munch on food while wandering around in it, but no picnic. Circo Massimo is a great location nearby, with a view of the ruins on Palatine Hill (which also overlook the Forum, but on the opposite side).

Clint you will most likely be asked to leave if you try. The police are cracking down on picnicing and the Forum would be an area they would focus on. The suggestions for the Circus Maximus nearby are good ones as its a huge green area and not heavily travelled. Great views too.

I would compare that to taking a picnic lunch onto the grounds of The Alamo in San Antonio. It would be disrespectful of the place and it's history. Please don't even think about it.

Have a snark-free day!