The
Circus Maximus (
Latin for
greatest or
largest circus, in
Italian Circo Massimo) is an
ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in
Rome,
Italy. Situated in the valley between the
Aventine and
Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in
ancient Rome and its later
Empire. It measured 621 m (2,037 ft) in length and 118 m (387 ft) in width and could accommodate over 150,000 spectators. In its fully developed form, it became the model for circuses throughout the Roman Empire. The site is now a public park.