Circus Maximus, Rome

The Circo Massimo runs along the base of the Palatine Hill. Not much of this 6th century BC Roman stadium remains, but the track still remains and was used mainly for chariot races. In its heydays, the arena held around 300000 spectators.

All that's left of ancient Rome's largest stadium is a large grassy basin. As you walk along its sides today try to imagine the chariot races that took place here in front of 300,000 spectators. The earliest of these being from at least the 4th century BC.

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As a fan of the movie Ben Hur, I couldn't go to Rome without visiting the Circus Maximus. I'll admit that it is very underwhelming compared to its Ben Hur re-creation, but it was nice to see nonetheless. All that is really left now is the circular area that was once the track with a raised mound of dirt in the middle that used to separate the 2 sides of the chariot ring. I can only imagine what it looked like in Roman times, chariots racing and a couple hundred thousand people cheering in the stands.

What I found very enjoyable was the citizens jogging and walking their dogs around the ring. What a great place to go for an evening jog, comparable I think to jogging on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

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Not too much is left of what was once the racetrack that could accommodate more than 200,000 people inside. Only the outlines remain and if you stop by you will most likely meet people walking their friendly dogs there and playing with them.

Tip: Bocca dela Verita is close by, so if you are in the area make sure you do not skip it.

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I thought there would have been little more left of this Circo Massimo horse-race place,than one tower and circle,shaped like race-tour.It was told more in books than Terme di Caracalla,witch was huge and great.We just walked by this when going to Terme di Caracalla.Her´s not so much to see.Ruins behind are backside of Forum Romanums ruins.

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This oval basin, nearly 600 meters long, is almost entirely filled in with dirt. It was once a race track. It was made in the time of the Etruscan kings (presumably Tarquinio Prisco). Augustus adorned the brick structure with an imperial stage, which was rebuilt by Trajan, enlarged by Caracalla and restored by Constantine. During the reign of Constantine, the Circus could hold more than 200,000 spectators. Today only the outline remains (the area it occupied is now a public garden).

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After we visited the Colosseum, Sandro drove us past this site and pointed it out to us. It used to be a the chariot racetrack of Rome. The name is Latin for greatest circus, in Italian Circo Massimo. It is now a runner’s track, sports park, and green space. The third picture was from a website with public domain pictures and shows the reconstructed site. Julius Caesar expanded the Circus in 50 B.C. so that the track measured approximately 2,037 ft long and 387 ft wide. It could hold 12 chariots. Chariot racing was very dangerous and there were spectacular crashes which could result in the death of the participants.

The excavation was done in the late 19th century. There is no entrance fee, but it lies behind the fenced off Palatine hill, with a view of the ancient imperial palace (photo 2). We didn't stay here long, but the internet site on parks says

All hippodromes (horserace parks) in ancient times were built with banked sides as bleacher seats for spectators, either landscaping the earth or as built structures. Circus Maximus was the largest of its kind, able to hold 250,000 spectators. The chariot races held at the park were popular sports attractions with Romans. They often bet on the charioteers, who were the sports celebrities of their time....

The south embankment sits higher than the north. Near its center is a wide platform with a dozen benches facing the track. This is where the emperor and his entourage would have sat during the races. Today it’s a good spot to survey the Palatine (one of the seven Roman hills) and its excavated architecture. For a closer look at an excavation-in- progress, the east end of the “Massimo” holds ancient structures that historians believe where the horse stables and dress areas of the chariot riders.

A softball diamond is roughly outlined at each of the corners on the track. Teens gather here after school and on weekends for pickup games. You’ll find morning and evening joggers working their way around the track...

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The Circus Maximus has quite a different look now then it did back in its glory days when the elite of Rome would gather and cheer on their favorite team color. Today its a quiet place to relax in the sun or to get some exercise jogging around the track where horses galloped furiously with chariots in tow. Located right behind Palatine Hill, this is a nice place to take a break after visiting the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Its rarely crowded and you will mostly see locals jogging or having picnics. Get away from the tourist madness for a little while and take in the peaceful atmosphere of the Circus Maximus.