Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus in Rome is a truly magical place. Standing there today, it’s fascinating to imagine how it must have looked 2,000 years ago — the thunder of hooves, the speed of chariots, and the roar of the crowd. From Augustus’ palace on the Palatine Hill, Rome’s nobility once enjoyed a spectacular view of these thrilling races. I highly recommend visiting this historic site!

This was another event that a private tour would have been helpful. From what I could see at a distance, it looked quite historical and interesting. It was totally overcrowded although there was plenty of land to roam. It was quite a long walk with hilly terrain.

Circus Maximus is located to the south of Palatine Hill. In its heyday, this was probably 600 metre long chariot racing stadium with the estimated capacity to hold up to 250K spectators. Today, very little remains of the old stadium other than the flat grounds and a handful of ruins at the southeast corner where you also find a virtual reality attraction and entrance to the small ruins area of what remains of Circus Maximus. In the end, you may want to make time to see the location of Circus Maximus if important. However, if time is limited for your trip to Rome, you might do better to concentrate on areas around the city with more intact and recognisable ruins like nearby Palatine Hill or the Imperial Forums for starters.

Not much to see here, just at few remains at one end, but when you walk along the bottom from one end to the other, it gives you a sense of just how big the chariot races actually were. The arena used to hold an astonishing 250,000 spectators who were all drinking and betting on the outcome of the chariot races, essentially gambling on the fate of someone's life. Maybe the Roman government should consider rebuilding it with a modern twist.

Formerly the site of ancient Roman chariot races, now a public park. Nice place to walk around and imagine how things must've looked. My only regret is not getting a tour for the buildings. Still a very cool and free place to visit.

Circus Maximus: It’s incredible to walk around this huge open field and imagine the chariot races that once took place here. There isn’t much left to see structurally, but the history is all around you, and the view from the top of the hill is worth the stop.

Visiting the Circus Maximus was truly a highlight of my time in Rome. Standing in a place with so much history and imagining the ancient chariot races was absolutely breathtaking. The open space, the views of the Palatine Hill, and the peaceful atmosphere make it a perfect spot to walk, relax, or simply take in the surroundings. Whether you're a history lover or just exploring the city, the Circus Maximus is a must-see. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Rome!

You can feel the chariots racing around the track with the back drop of the imperial palace on the palantine hill.