Circus Maximus

A magnificent ancient chariot racing stadium.

TravelCurious Tip

On a sunny day take a picnic and a blanket to the Circus Maximus and sit under the ancient palaces of the Empire.

Sweet chariots

The Circus Maximus was ancient Rome’s foremost chariot racing stadium. A huge rectangular site in the valley between Aventine Hill and Palatine Hill, it is 621 metres long and 118 metres wide, and could hold up to a staggering 150,000 spectators at a time - more than modern football stadiums today.

The Circus Maximus had been used by the Roman State before the Empire, not just for chariot racing but also for many other ludi (games) and large-scale spectacles including venatiae (beast hunts), executions, gladiator fights and plays. Caesar is said to have used 400 lions in one venatio. These displays were not only for the entertainment of the people but also honoured Roman leaders and the gods, and would often include religious ceremonies and great feasts.

The site holds religious significance even pre-dating the construction of the stadium, as the patron goddess of the valley, Murcia, a relative of Venus, was worshipped there; statues to the gods adorned the arena. When the arena was not being used for public events, vendors and merchants of all sorts would set up shop in the Circus Maximus, as well as other tradespeople like performers and prostitutes.

The beaten track

After the construction of the Colosseum and other stadiums the Circus Maximus was used almost exclusively for chariot racing, and remained the most popular venue for races in the Empire. Ludi only began to fall out of favour after the adoption of Christianity as the Empire’s official religion in the 5th century.

To stand on Aventine Hill today and look down at the huge site of the Circus Maximus, with the Palatine’s magnificent palace ruins as backdrop, it is difficult not be awestruck imagining 150,000 cheering Romans watching as chariots, men and horses hurtled round the track. Now the area is primarily a public park, with only a small portion at one end currently being excavated; modern Romans still use the site for concerts and celebrations, and the spirit of the Circus Maximus is alive and well.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Rome
Colosseum
The Roman Empire’s largest amphitheatre, and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring ancient monuments.
Roman Forum
The political, religious and civic heart of ancient Rome.
Arch of Constantine
The largest and most magnificent of Rome's triumphal arches, with a curious history in its sculpture.
Palatine Hill
This hill is where the Roman State began, and where Rome's Emperors used to live. Today it boasts many remains from their magnificent palaces.
Arch of Titus
One of Rome's most iconic triumphal arches, and the model for the Parisian Arc de Triomphe.
Temple of Caesar
Remains of the temple of Julius Caesar.

Related Tours

Rome Catacombs & Appian Way: Private Golf Cart Tour
This tour will whisk you away to the cobbled lanes and idyllic fields of the Italian countryside to visit the Catacombs and drive along the famed and historic Appian Way. 

On your private tour, you will:

  • Enjoy pick-up in central Rome and a panoramic drive past the iconic Colosseum, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus and Imperial Palaces on Palatine Hill;
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Your experience starts with a pick-up in central Rome and a panoramic drive past the iconic Colosseum, Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus and Imperial Palaces on Palatine Hill, before you embark on an adventure across the less travelled side of beautiful Rome - the majestic Appian Way. 

The Via Appia Antica (Appian way) was at one time, the most important road in the Roman Empire rolling from Central Rome to the beautiful hills and fields of the neighbouring countryside and eventually all the way to the City of Brindisi. Sided by sleepy churches, farmhouses and crumbling Roman ruins, it is a truly magical picturesque route.

You will stop at one of Rome's ancient catacombs to explore the network of underground burial grounds that date from the second to the fifth century, and then drive out to the city’s remaining visible network of aqueducts.

Please note: Private guides are not allowed to guide inside the Catacombs so you will join a small group with an official Catacombs tour guide.

Once the pride of Roman engineering, these wonderful aqueducts transported water over long distances to towns and cities, providing the means to construct complex sewage irrigation systems, and supply fresh, clean water for baths, fountains, and drinking water for its citizens.

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On your private tour, you will:

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From the slum neighbourhood of his birth to where he met his grisly end, the city, empire and culture of Rome owe much to Julius Caesar. With your private guide, gain an insight into Caesar's dominance as Consul of Rome. 

Learn all about his upbringing, private life (he was very much a lady’s man) and his military prowess that led to the Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus – the betrayals and power play, and finally the crossing of the Rubicon. 

Julius Caesar was very much the people’s politician. He was loved by the people who considered him ‘one of them’. This popularity may have led to his hubris and downfall. Rome’s motto is SPQR (Senatus et Populusque Romanus) meaning the Senate and the People of Rome. 

Julius had the will of the people but arrogantly stopped consulting the senate. This cost him dearly, and on the ides of March 44 BC, he was assassinated, stabbed 23 times on the steps leading to the temporary senate-house, at Largo Argentina. 

An astute politician and brilliant military strategist Caesar powered Rome into expansion, decisively defeating enemies and winning the hearts and minds of the common people. Each successful war assured him of the undying loyalty of his soldiers, who followed him into battle after battle. His life and death, are the stories of legends with unions that include a love affair with Cleopatra. 

The contributions he made have echoed through history - including the introduction of the Julian Calendar in Rome, setting the year at 365.25 days, divided into 12 months. 

Your Tour of Julius Caesar’s Rome will delve into the archaeological roots of the city to follow in his footsteps. Discover Caesar’s place of birth in 100BCE - Suburra, a down-and-out area where the trendy area of Monti now stands, and end your tour where his life ended brutally on the steps of the theatre of Pompey at Largo Argentina. 
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