Circus of Maxentius, Rome, Italy

The Circus of Maxentius is an ancient part of a complex erected by emperor Maxentius on the Via Appia between AD 306 and 312. It is situated between the second and third miles of the Via Appia between the basilica and catacombs of San Sebastiano and the imposing late republican tomb of Caecilia Metella, which dominates the hill that rises immediately to the east of the complex.

The Circus itself is the best preserved in the area of Rome, and is second only in size to the Circus Maximus in Rome. The only games recorded at the circus were its inaugural ones and these are generally thought to have been funerary in character. They would have been held in honour of Maxentius' son Valerius Romulus, who died in AD 309 at a very young age and who was probably interred in the adjacent cylindrical tomb (tomb of Romulus). The imperial box of the circus is connected, via a covered portico, to the villa of Maxentius, whose scant remains are today obscured by dense foliage, except for the apse of the basilical audience hall, which pokes out from the tree tops. The complex was probably never used after the death of Maxentius in AD 312.

References:

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User Reviews

L W (12 months ago)
Truly amazing in its size. Much less crowds too than the one by the colloseum.

Caique Maranzati (13 months ago)
the day I went there was an event that had happened and there was nothing to see that, and also the grass and surroundings were poorly taken care of.

Alena M (14 months ago)
I loved this park!nice to have a time with a family

Kent Wang (18 months ago)
Not much to see here. Villa dei Quintilli is bigger The Villa of Maxentius was built by the Roman emperor Maxentius in the 4th century along the Appian Way, and includes his palace, mausoleum, and a circus (race track for chariots).

Philip Jones (20 months ago)
We really enjoyed this site. There are ruins spread out over a large area of green grass and wildflowers. there is a large mausoleum that you can enter.

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