Situated between the second and third mile of the Via Appia Antica, the Villa of Maxentius complex is one of the most striking archaeological areas in the Roman countryside, a jewel worth rediscovering. It was one of the great building works initiated by Maxentius during his short reign (306-312), which ended with the disastrous defeat at the Milvian Bridge that brought his rival Constantine at the head of the Empire. The three main buildings that made up the imperial residence (the palace, the circus and the dynastic mausoleum) were designed as a single architectural unit that was to celebrate the figure of the emperor.
To enhance the monumental remains in the approximately 20 hectares of the archaeological area, a new lighting system was inaugurated on the occasion of the 2777th Rome’s Birthday. The new lighting designed by the Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali affected the access path to the Villa, the towers and carceres of the circus, and the outer face of the quadriporticus enclosing the mausoleum area. In the mausoleum’s burial crypt, maintenance work of the pre-existing installation was carried out.
Thanks to this intervention, it is now possible to offer citizens the opportunity to enjoy the impressive spectacle of the imperial structures even after sunset. For the summer of 2024, extraordinary Saturday evening openings are in fact planned, and visiting hours will also be extended on Free Sundays (first Sunday of the month), expanding the attendance of this area of the city rich in archaeological monuments.
For more information, visit the official website of the Villa of Maxentius.
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