Circuses and Amphitheaters in Rome, Rome, Italy

On this page of the free Rome travel guide, you will discover Rome amphitheaters and circuses which you’ll definitely have to see during your stay in Italy’s capital.

- visiting information including opening times, ticket prices, address and map location, telephone if available, and details on how to get there using public transport.

Circus Maximus is located between Aventino and Palatine Hill. Once the largest circus of Ancient Rome, Circus Maximus was 621 meters long and 118 meters wide. This space served mostly for chariot races and it could accommodate up to 25,000 spectators.

The victorious chariotees and their horses were like present-day celebrities to the locals of those times. This is why emperors like Caligula and Nero took part in the chariot races. They wanted to prove their courage publicly in order to increase the support of the Romans.

Though today Circus Maximus is just a huge esplanade, in the past it had interesting attractions. For example, in the 10th century, Circus Maximus had an almost 24-meter-tall Egyptian obelisk, dating back to the times of Ramses II. Today, this obelisk is in Piazza del Popolo. Another 32.5-meter-tall Egyptian obelisk from Circus Maximus is in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).