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Circo Massimo, a huge arena in Rome

Posted on 28 April 2010

Ancient arena even more impressive, if possible, was the Circus Maximus. Area that could hold 250,000 spectators on its forums and today it is practically only a faint trace, but still important to realize how impressive were the works of the Romans.

In ancient Rome the Colosseum was not the only space dedicated to entertainment of the population, the Romans were real lovers of games and shows and therefore theaters and arenas were the backdrop to every Roman city. Obviously, the defense was not just Rome, the most important city. Even today, in addition to the Theater of Marcellus, to name a theater can still be visited, there’s Piazza Navona, where ancient Romans simulated aquatic battles and above all the Circo Massimo.
The Circo Massimo is located in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills and is one of the oldest places where games and races were held for the amusement of the audience. His position in fact favors the unfolding of events and entertainment since the dawn of the city of Rome, although in reality the first fixed wooden buildings are placed in the second half of the sixth century, when Rome was still a monarchy, and only the time of Julius Caesar were played important bricklaying who gave what still remains the actual shape.
At the time of the Emperors, the structure is restored several times, and Augustus installed the famous obelisk visible in all reconstructions of the Circo Massimo. The final restoration is probably what is owed to Trajan in 103 AD who completed the restoration and reconstruction begun by Diocletian after the fire had completely destroyed the structure. This reconstruction dating the remains found by tourists and is now visible, rests of plant until about 500 AD has hosted races for which it was built.
The arena was the place where chariot races took place and can be regarded as a modern race track, or perhaps even better, a modern racetrack. Its dimensions are impressive, long 621 m and width 118 was completely closed for its entire length from the stands that could accommodate a maximum of 250,000 people, a very exorbitant figure .
Today very few traces are left, neglect and looting have made that little remained of this majestic arena, but the area is now cured and is still strongly recommend a visit if you are visiting Rome, it’s important to understand and get a concrete idea of what this monument was many centuries ago.