Circus of Nero Archaeological Site

Address: Circus of Nero (ancient site), Rome, Italy

The Circus of Nero was an ancient Roman circus situated on the Vatican side of the Tiber in Rome, used for chariot racing and public spectacles in the early imperial period and historically associated with events during Nero’s reign. The circus’s footprint lies beneath the modern Vatican area and St. Peter’s Square.

Although almost no above-ground structures survive, the site is archaeologically significant because it is traditionally identified with the place where early Christians, including Saint Peter according to Christian tradition, were martyred. The circus’s obelisk was removed and re-erected in St. Peter’s Square in 1586, where it serves as a visible remnant of the ancient site.

Historically the circus was built in the 1st century AD and used for racing and public spectacles throughout the imperial era; with the decline of the circus tradition and the rise of Christian Rome, the area was repurposed and later built over in the medieval and modern periods. Archaeological work has identified fragments and foundations tied to the circus plan.

The ancient circus occupied the Campus Vaticanus area on the western bank of the Tiber, immediately adjacent to where St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square stand today in the Vatican/Rome complex.

• Obelisk: The obelisk that once stood in the circus was moved to the centre of St. Peter’s Square in 1586 and remains a prominent visual marker of the circus’s former location.

What to See#

• Circus site and obelisk: The location of the ancient circus itself, now largely overlaid by the Vatican complex and St. Peter’s Square where the circus’s obelisk now stands.
• Archaeological remains: Archaeological remains and excavated fragments found in and around the Vatican area, identified with the ancient racecourse and associated structures.

The Circus of Nero (ancient Roman circus) is in central Rome. It is accessed on foot from Rome’s central transit points; depending on where you start you can use Metro Line B to Colosseo or Metro Line A to nearby central stops and then walk or take local buses to the archaeological area in the historic centre.

• If you want to understand the Circus of Nero's archaeological context, book the Scavi (Vatican Necropolis) tour well in advance through the Vatican's Pontifical Commission - it's the only way to see the burial area connected to the circus.
• Otherwise, visit the area around St. Peter's early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid peak Vatican crowds and to view the modern markers and surface traces related to the ancient circus.
• Plan the visit together with St. Peter's Basilica/necropolis arrangements - much of what remains of the circus is accessed or interpreted in conjunction with Vatican archaeological tours rather than as a standalone ruin.