Circus of Maxentius in Rome: the best-preserved Roman circus, hours and ticket
The Circus of Maxentius (Circo di Massenzio), on the Via Appia Antica, is the best-preserved Roman circus: a track more than 500 m long, its twelve starting gates (carceres), the central spina and part of the stands. Built around 309 by the emperor Maxentius for chariot racing, it is part of a group of three monuments with the Mausoleum of Romulus, his son, and the ruins of the imperial palace. The site is open Tuesday to Sunday, with a full-price ticket of €7.50 (€6 reduced). Allow an hour.
Highlights
The track and the stands
The track is about 500 m long; the circus could hold around 10,000 spectators. The walls of the stands can be made out on each side, and grass has replaced the sand: you walk where the quadrigas raced, much as in the Circus Maximus, but here with well-preserved structures.
The starting gates and the towers
At the far end, the twelve carceres, from which the chariots set off, are framed by two towers. In spring poppies cover the track, a very photogenic moment.
The spina
This long central barrier, which the chariots raced around, carried statues and obelisks. The one found here, the obelisk of Domitian, was moved in the 17th century to Piazza Navona, where it tops the Fountain of the Four Rivers.
The Mausoleum of Romulus
This large circular mausoleum, preceded by a quadriporticus, is thought to have been built by Maxentius for his son Romulus, who died in 309. Its monumental plan sets it apart from the other tombs on the road.
The imperial palace
On the hill, the remains of Maxentius's residence link the circus to the road; Maxentius was defeated in 312 at the Milvian Bridge by Constantine.
Practical info
Tips
- Prices seen in October 2026: €7.50 full price, €6 reduced, according to the list of Rome municipal museums; the MIC Card (€5) gives free entry to all the municipal museum system for a year. Check the price on the official website before you go, as it may change. The ticket of the Appia Antica Archaeological Park (Cecilia Metella, Villa dei Quintili) is not the same as the Circus of Maxentius ticket, which is run by the City of Rome: plan for both if you want to see everything. There is little shelter: water and a hat in summer. For the full outing along the road, read our guide Via Appia by e-bike. See also: Via Appia Antica, Tomb of Cecilia Metella, Villa dei Quintili, Cycling in Rome. Information checked in October 2026.
How to get there
Via Appia Antica 153, 00179 Rome, a few hundred metres from the Tomb of Cecilia Metella. Bus 118 or 218 from the centre (stops on the Via Appia Antica), or bus 660; check the stop on Roma Mobilità.
Opening hours
Nearby
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