# Arch of Constantine, Rome

> The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch of AD 315 beside the Colosseum — at about 21 metres, the largest Roman one to survive. It honoured Emperor Constantine, and much of its sculpture was taken from earlier monuments of Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. It's free to see at any hour from outside its fence; 10–15 minutes is enough.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/arch-of-constantine

- City: [Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome), Italy
- YesGo score: 57/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 15 min
- Opening hours: Open 24 hours, free, viewed from outside the fence
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: Free, viewed from outside — the arch is fenced
- Date: AD 315 — for Constantine's tenth year in power
- Size: ≈ 21 m tall, ≈ 25.9 m wide
- Time needed: 10–15 minutes
- Nearby: Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum
- Location: Piazza del Colosseo; Metro B Colosseo, 2 minutes
- Coordinates: 41.88983, 12.49061
- Facts checked: 10.11.2026

## Key facts

- **AD 315** — dedicated to Constantine by the Senate and People of Rome (source: English Wikipedia)
- **≈ 21 m** — tall — the largest surviving Roman triumphal arch (source: English Wikipedia)
- **3 bays** — a central passage and two side ones (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Spolia** — reliefs and statues reused from Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius (source: English Wikipedia)
- **8 Dacians** — captive statues on the attic, taken from Trajan's Forum (source: English Wikipedia)

## Arch of Constantine history

The **Senate and People of Rome** dedicated the arch in **AD 315**, marking **Constantine**'s tenth year in power and his victory over his rival Maxentius in 312. Constantine was the first emperor to back Christianity, yet the arch carries no Christian symbols — its inscription carefully credits 'the inspiration of the divinity'.

It's the **largest** Roman triumphal arch still standing: about **21 metres** high and **25.9 metres** wide, with three bays. In the Middle Ages the Frangipane family built it into their fortifications, which may be why it survived so well.

## A monument made of other monuments

The fascinating thing about the arch is its **spolia** — pieces reused from older monuments. The roundels over the side arches come from **Hadrian**'s time, showing hunts and sacrifices. The rectangular panels on the attic are from a monument to **Marcus Aurelius**. The big reliefs inside the central passage and the statues of captive Dacians come from **Trajan's Forum**. The earlier emperors' heads were recarved as Constantine.

The carvings made for the arch itself in the 4th century are the narrow frieze above the side bays — noticeably flatter and simpler, a neat lesson in how Roman art changed over two centuries.

## What the inscription says

The attic inscription, repeated on both faces, reads in translation: "To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantine, the greatest, pious and blessed Augustus, because, inspired by the divine and by greatness of mind, he avenged the state with his army — the Senate and People of Rome dedicated this arch, decorated with triumphs." Smaller texts over the side bays wish him well for his tenth and twentieth years in power.

## What to look for

- **The attic inscription** — the Senate's dedication to Constantine.
- **Hadrianic roundels** — eight circular reliefs of hunting and sacrifice.
- **Marcus Aurelius panels** — eight rectangular reliefs at the top.
- **Dacian statues** — eight figures on the attic columns, from Trajan's Forum.
- **4th-century frieze** — the narrow band above the side bays, made for Constantine.
- **The view through the arch** — from the north the Colosseum frames itself in the central bay.

> **Best photo spots** The classic shot is the arch with the Colosseum behind, from the start of Via di San Gregorio to the south. The Palatine terraces look down on it from above, and it's floodlit with the Colosseum at night.

## How to get to the Arch of Constantine

1. Metro line B to **Colosseo** — 2 minutes' walk.
2. It stands between the [Colosseum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/colosseum) and the [Palatine](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palatine-hill) entrance on Via di San Gregorio.
3. Tram 3 and buses 51, 75, 85 and 87 stop around Piazza del Colosseo.
4. The Via Sacra runs past it to the Roman Forum's Arch of Titus gate.

## Is it worth seeing?

Yes — you'll be at the Colosseum anyway, it's free, and it's the best example of Rome recycling its own past. Walk all the way round: each side has different reliefs. If triumphal arches interest you, compare it with the Arches of Titus and Septimius Severus in the [Roman Forum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/roman-forum).

## At the arch

Tick off what's done — your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] Walk all the way round
- [ ] Spot the Hadrianic roundels and the Dacian statues
- [ ] Photograph it with the Colosseum behind
- [ ] Come back at night for the lights
- [ ] Compare with the Arch of Titus in the Forum

## Ancient Rome: compare and choose

Ancient sites in Rome rated by YesGo.

- [Pantheon](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pantheon) — YesGo score 82/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · ≈ €5
- [Colosseum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/colosseum) — YesGo score 73/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ≈ €18
- [Roman Forum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/roman-forum) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- [Circus Maximus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/circus-maximus) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Trajan's Column](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/trajans-column) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free
- [Capitoline Hill](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/capitoline-hill) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Arch of Constantine](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/arch-of-constantine) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free
- [Castel Sant'Angelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/castel-sant-angelo) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €15–20
- [Palatine Hill](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palatine-hill) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- [Mausoleum of Augustus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/mausoleum-of-augustus) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · ≈ €5, booking
- [Largo di Torre Argentina](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/largo-di-torre-argentina) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free from street; walkways ≈ €5
- [Pyramid of Cestius](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pyramid-of-cestius) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free outside
- [Appian Way](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/appian-way) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free
- [Domus Aurea](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/domus-aurea) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26
- [Mouth of Truth](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/bocca-della-verita) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Donation ≈ €2
- [Baths of Caracalla](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/baths-of-caracalla) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €8
- [Catacombs of Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/rome-catacombs) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €10–12 with guide
- [Ara Pacis](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ara-pacis) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ €13–15
- [Theatre of Marcellus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/theatre-of-marcellus) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
- [Vatican Museums](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/vatican-museums) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €25
- [Capitoline Museums](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/capitoline-museums) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ €15–19.50
- [Baths of Diocletian](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/baths-of-diocletian) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12
- [Basilica of San Clemente](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/san-clemente) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Upper free; excavations ≈ €10–12
- [Imperial Fora](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/imperial-fora) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15
- [Testaccio](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/testaccio) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
- [Palazzo Massimo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palazzo-massimo) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ €10–12 combined ticket
- [Ostia Antica](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ostia-antica) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €12–18
- [Hadrian's Villa](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/hadrians-villa) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €12–15

## Colosseum and the Golden House

The Domus Aurea with VR in the morning, then the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine next door.

1. [Domus Aurea](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/domus-aurea) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26
2. [Colosseum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/colosseum) — YesGo score 73/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ≈ €18
3. [Arch of Constantine](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/arch-of-constantine) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free

## Don't mix it up

The Arch of Constantine isn't the Arch of Titus or the Arch of Septimius Severus — both stand inside the Roman Forum and need a ticket. Paris's Arc de Triomphe copies the Roman type but dates from the 19th century.

## Tips

- Free to see — walk all the way round.
- Best shot: the Colosseum behind the arch.
- Floodlit after dark.
- Hadrian's roundels sit above the side bays.

## Questions

### When was the Arch of Constantine built?

In AD 315, for Constantine's tenth year as emperor.

### Where is the Arch of Constantine?

Beside the Colosseum, between it and the Palatine; Colosseo metro.

### Can you walk through the Arch of Constantine?

No, it's fenced off; you view it from outside for free.

### How tall is the Arch of Constantine?

About 21 m high and 25.9 m wide.

### Why does it show other emperors' reliefs?

They were taken from monuments of Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius and recut as Constantine.

### How long do you need?

10–15 minutes.

## How we checked

History, dimensions and reliefs from English Wikipedia. The arch is free and viewed from outside, so no prices or hours appear on this page.

## Sources

- English Wikipedia, Arch of Constantine

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