News Culture

Rome's Circus Maximus comes to life with virtual reality

By: Wanted in Rome

Date:

13 Sep, 2022

Circo Maximo Experience offers 3D tours in six languages.

The Circo Maximo Experience 3D tours relive "the ancient splendours of the Circus Maximus in the Imperial period of Rome through augmented and virtual reality."

Visitors can experience the roars of the crowd at the chariot races that once packed the 600-m long venue, or mingle among the Roman market sellers and marvel at the Arch of Titus in its original 20-m height.

Using interactive display technology, the project charts the history of the age-old Valle di Murcia in seven historic stages.

Overlapping images of the past to the present-day reality, the 40-minute walking itinerary is available in six languages (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Russian), with visitors equipped with immersive glasses and earphones.

The eight stops include: the valley floor of the Circus Maximus during the Archaic Period, from the first century BC to the first century AD, the Imperial period, the tiered seating arena (cavea), the Arch of Titus, the shops (tabernae), the Circus Maximus in the Middle Ages and in modern times and lastly, “A Day at the Circus”.

Entry to the 3-D project, which follows similar initiatives at the Baths of Caracalla, Ara Pacis and the Domus Aurea, is at the Viale Aventino end of the Circus Maximus.

The Circo Maximo Experience tour, which is not available if raining, costs €12 and takes place every 15 minutes during opening hours, with last entry 1 hour and 10 minutes before closing time.

It is open on the following dates, Tuesday to Sunday: until 18 September from 16.30-19.30; from 20-30 September from 16.00-19.00. From 4 October-30 December, Tuesday to Friday, it is open from 10.00-14.00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10.00-16.00.

The visits are excluded from the free museum openings on the first Sunday of the month (2 October, 6 November and 4 December) and 23-24-25, 28 and 30 settembre, 1 October and 25 December.

For full visiting details see Circo Maximo Experience website.