Circus Maximus and the Palatine: what this webcam shows
This view takes you into the great archaeological space between the Palatine and the Aventine. The elongated shape of the Circus Maximus, the outline of the hill and the monumental remains make it possible to understand one of ancient Rome’s most recognisable landscapes within the city of today.
The Circus Maximus and the Palatine landscape
The Circus Maximus occupies the natural valley between the Palatine and the Aventine. In antiquity it was Rome’s principal space for chariot races and large public spectacles. Its extent, around six hundred metres long, can still be read in the shape of the ground and gives an idea of the exceptional dimensions the complex reached in imperial times.
Behind the Circus rises the Palatine, one of Rome’s seven hills and one of the key places in the city’s history. Aristocratic residences and imperial palaces were built here; the structures visible along the slope recall how this area remained one of the main centres of Roman power for centuries.
What to observe live
The webcam is useful for following the changing light on the Palatine slopes, cloud cover and the appearance of the Circus’s great open space. During events or public gatherings the area can change completely, while on ordinary days it is possible to appreciate the contrast between archaeology, vegetation and the traffic of the contemporary city.
The view also helps explain the scale of the place: the Circus is not an isolated monument, but a genuine urban landscape connecting the Palatine, the Aventine and the route towards the Roman Forum.
What to see nearby
From the Circus Maximus it is easy to reach the Palatine, the Aventine, the Municipal Rose Garden, Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Mouth of Truth. Continuing towards the archaeological centre brings you to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. The area is therefore a natural link between several essential places of ancient Rome.
