The ruins of the Circus of Maxentius, built in AD 309, give you an idea of what the Roman circuses looked like. You can see the towers at the entrance; the spina, the wall that divided it down the center; and the vaults that supported the tiers of seating for the spectators. The obelisk now in Piazza Navona was found here. The adjacent Mausoleo di Romolo is a huge tomb built by the emperor for his son Romulus, who died young. The tomb and circus were on the grounds of the emperor's villa, much of which is yet to be excavated.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip