- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Photo: Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site
Mausoleum of Maxentius
Tomb from the 4th century Rome, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Via Appia. Regina Viarum
- Coordinates
- 41°51′19″ N, 12°31′07″ E
History and description
The Mausoleum of Maxentius was part of a large complex on the Appian Way in Rome that included a palace and a chariot racing circus, constructed by the Emperor Maxentius. The large circular tomb was built by Maxentius in the early 4th century, probably with himself in mind and as a family tomb. When his young son Valerius Romulus died, he was buried there. After extensive renovation the mausoleum was reopened to the public in 2014.
History
Maxentius may have decided to build the mausoleum on the Appian Way because, according to Roman custom, all bodies had to be buried outside the city. The complex is very close to several catacombs. The mausoleum is believed to have been a two-story, cylindrical rotunda with a diameter of around 35 metres, but only its semi-underground floor survives. There is a central octagonal pillar with a diameter of more than nine metres and this is circled by a seven-metre-wide, vaulted corridor with open niches for the sarcophagi.
There is no trace of floor or wall decoration, suggesting that the building was never completed.
An 18th-century home largely obscures the mausoleum from the Appian Way and stands where a columnar porch once framed the tomb's principal entrance. This was originally a farmhouse and was later converted into a home by the Torlonia family, who owned it until it was taken over by the Fascist government in 1943.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Mausoleum of Maxentius».
Photos
Getting there
Roma TuscolanaTrain, nearest
2.7 km as the crow flies
Mausoleum of Maxentius
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino8.7 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mausoleum of Maxentius?
Mausoleum of Maxentius is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.85519, 12.51852.
How much does it cost to visit Mausoleum of Maxentius?
Entry is free.
Is Mausoleum of Maxentius wheelchair accessible?
According to OpenStreetMap data, the site is wheelchair accessible.
What else is there to see near Mausoleum of Maxentius?
Nearby you’ll find: Villa Maxentii (100 m away), Vigna Randanini (200 m away), Catacombs of San Sebastiano (200 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Roma, Circo di Massenzio, mausoleo (1) — Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Circo di Massenzio - mausoleo e palazzina Torlonia P1060417 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Circo di Massenzio - mausoleo interno P1060404 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Circo di Massenzio - mausoleo interno verso l'Appia P1060408 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- L06 912 Maxentius-Mausoleum — Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mausoleum of Maxentius — Tyler Bell, CC BY 2.0
- Roma, Circo di Massenzio, mausoleo (2) — Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Roma, Circo di Massenzio, mausoleo, affreschi (1) — Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Roma, Circo di Massenzio, mausoleo, interno (1) — Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences