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.

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User Reviews

Bowen Peng (7 months ago)
A lesser known Circus of Rome considering its location outside of Rome, but certainly a very interesting one. The free admission allows you to roam freely within the vast ruins where you can see the remnants of the Circus that surrounded it. You can even enter one of the buildings here

Richard Dakin (9 months ago)
Better than Circus Maximus actually as there is actually something to see.

L W (2 years ago)
Truly amazing in its size. Much less crowds too than the one by the colloseum.

Caique Maranzati (2 years 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 (2 years ago)
I loved this park!nice to have a time with a family

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