Circus Maximus, Ancient Roman circus in Rome, Italy
Circus Maximus is an archaeological site in the first district of Rome that shows the layout of an ancient racetrack. The grounds stretch 600 meters long and 140 meters wide and preserve remains of seating areas, underground passages and medieval buildings that settled over the Roman foundation.
Julius Caesar commissioned a permanent structure here in the first century before Christ, replacing earlier wooden buildings in the Murcia valley. Over the centuries the arena was expanded and remained in operation until the sixth century after Christ, when it fell into disrepair and its stones were used for other projects.
Charioteers raced here wearing green, blue, red or white while crowds cheered for their team and placed bets on the outcome. The atmosphere resembled a modern stadium where rivalry and passion shaped the day and people from all walks of life gathered together.
The site lies open under the sky and is accessible in all weather, though shade is scarce during summer months. Visitors can walk across ancient paving stones and descend into accessible galleries that once led to the seating rows.
A virtual experience using special glasses lets visitors see the building in different periods and understand how races unfolded. The technology brings back vanished columns, seating and chariots and connects the empty field with its former shape.
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