Basilica of Maxentius

The Basilica of Maxentius, also called the Basilica Nova, is a monumental Roman administrative building in the Roman Forum in Rome, constructed in the early 4th century. It was commissioned by Emperor Maxentius and completed under Constantine the Great.

The surviving ruins preserve large sections of the building’s concrete vaulting and three monumental barrel-vaulted bays of the main hall, giving a sense of the original interior scale. The basilica originally served public and civic functions rather than religious ones, acting as a venue for legal and administrative business.

Built by Maxentius around the beginning of the 4th century and finished after his defeat by Constantine, the structure was damaged by earthquakes in later centuries and partly dismantled for building materials. What remains today are structural elements that illustrate Roman engineering with large-scale concrete vaults and piers.

The basilica is located within the Roman Forum, between the Palatine and Capitoline hills in central Rome, and is accessible from the archaeological promenade that runs through the Forum area.

• Best viewpoints: The visible remains include massive concrete vaults and brick-faced arches which are best seen from the Roman Forum and surrounding viewpoints.