This long valley between the Palatine and Aventine once held the largest performance venue in ancient Rome. Circus Maximus hosted chariot races, triumphal processions, and civic events; today its open scale lets visitors trace the shape of that spectacle.
Guide preview
The grassy valley is so broad that it can be difficult to picture a stadium here. Circus Maximus stretched roughly 600 meters between the Palatine and Aventine, making it the largest ancient Roman venue for public spectacles.
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Quick facts
- The circus occupied a valley about 600 meters long between the Palatine and Aventine.
- Julius Caesar established a permanent masonry circus at the site.
- Most of its surviving ancient structures belong to Trajan’s reconstruction.
More places in Rome
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Despite its name, the Arch of the Argentarii is a decorated passage beside San Giorgio al Velabro. Dedicated in 204 CE by money changers and cattle merchants, its marble reliefs record imperial power and the later erasure of disfavored figures.
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Basilica of San Clemente
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Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
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