Circo Massimo

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About Circo Massimo

The Circo Massimo was the largest venue for spectacles in ancient Rome. It occupied the valley between the Palatino and the Aventino hills, about 600 meters long and 140 meters wide, and hosted chariot races—the four‑horse carts that were the passion of the Roman people. It was also used for triumphal parades and processions.

The masonry structure began with Julius Caesar and was rebuilt several times after fires. Most of what is seen today dates to the reconstruction during the reign of Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century. Races continued until the 6th century. Afterwards the valley became agricultural land and later housed a gasometer and warehouses, until the 20th‑century excavations.

Today the track is a large open lawn, used by Romans for walking and running and sometimes for major shows and events. The elongated shape of the circus is still clearly visible, and from the Palatino side you can imagine the stands and the imperial palaces above.

At the eastern end is the archaeological area with remains of the stands, the shops and the triumphal arch, as well as the Torre della Moletta, a medieval tower of the Frangipane family. This section has opening hours and an entrance fee, and also offers the Circo Maximo Experience, an augmented reality route that shows the circus in its various phases.