Basilica of Maxentius — Attraction in Rome

This is one of the larger remaining coffered barrel vaults of the Basilica of Maxentius. The scale of this is amazing. It is a definite must see inside your Roman Forum tour. Having lived in Arizona and interviewed Paolo Soleri, the last living student of Frank Lloyd Wright, in my 1st book, this was definitely the piece that Soleri emulated in his ground cast Arco Santi grand arch which is in and of itself a site to see. So this structure has had a lasting impact on architects down through the ages. What strikes you most here is that these pieces being so large in scale only represent about a third of the original entire vaulted area. When you see the barrel vault of Saint Peter's, you get the idea of what this must have looked like in size. The plastered bricks of the Pantheon coffers, although those are trapezoidal, also give you an idea of what their original fit and finish might have been like. Many of these monuments having sat open to the elements for centuries show the resilience of ancient designs and their technology of construction. It is the happenstances of seismic activity that usually are their undoing. The pieces that remain have done so most recently by the addition of seismic reinforcement that allows them to move but stay in place as opposed to rigid forms that can't move and wind up cracking. Masonry has excellent compression resistance but fails easily with tension. This is the beauty of the modern day reinforced concrete that marries steel's tensile resistance and concrete's compressive strength. Still it amazes me that this much has survived all these centuries prior to this...

Ticket Information: The Roman Forum is open 9am-7pm. Entry costs €11. This is a combined ticket including entry to the Palatine and Colloseum.

about basilica of maxentius and constantine

The Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine is the largest structure in the Roman Forum and still has part of its roof as well as three of its colossal arches and vaults.

Initial construction of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine started under the Roman Emperor Maxentius in 308 AD and was completed by Constantine in approximately 312-3 AD. With its vast vaults standing unsupported, it is considered to be a triumph of Roman engineering.

Contrary to the religious connotations of its name, it is thought that the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine would have, like other Roman basilicas, served as a meeting house and judicial or...

A breathtaking reminder of Rome’s imperial ambition and architectural genius.

This basilica — originally commissioned by Emperor Maxentius and later completed by Constantine — is one of the most awe-inspiring ruins on the Roman Forum. Standing beneath its towering arches, you can almost feel the weight of history pressing in from all sides.

It wasn’t a church but a massive civic hall — used for courts, gatherings, and imperial announcements. The scale is incredible, and the engineering (especially the barrel vaults and coffered ceilings) shows why Roman design has lasted for millennia.

Don’t miss the remaining central nave — it’s one of the last grand structures from pre-Christian Rome. Absolutely worth slowing down for.

📸 I post quiet corners and cultural highlights like this one on Instagram:...