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Circus of Maxentius: the stadium of the Appian Way.
Dating back to the 4th century AD, the Circus of Maxentius (Circo di Massenzio) is part of the archaeological complex that once comprised the Imperial Palace and the mausoleum of Romulus, Maxentius's son, who died at just 7 years old.
The structure, measuring 520m in length and 62m in width, could hold up to 10,000 spectators. Some scholars believe, however, that it was never used, or that it was used for only a very short time, as it was built in 311 AD, and the following year Maxentius died in battle against Constantine, after which the site was gradually abandoned.
The track and the missing obelisk.
Today the Circus of Maxentius preserves part of its original structure, such as the two starting towers for the horses and the central spine, approximately 270m long, around which the chariots completed the seven laps of the race. Originally, at the center of the spine stood an obelisk that was moved in 1650 by Pope Innocent X to adorn Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) in Piazza Navona.
From cinema to the present day.
Walking through it, you can admire the majesty of the place and relive the power and atmosphere of a bygone era.
The Circus of Maxentius is linked to the history of cinema: in 1959, some scenes from the famous chariot race in William Wyler's film "Ben-Hur" were filmed here. For the 2016 remake, the circus then inspired the reconstructed set now on display at Cinecittà World.
The best time to visit is in the morning or at sunset, on a beautiful sunny day and wearing comfortable shoes.
