In ancient times the Circus Maximus (The Great Circus)
was the largest in Rome. It could held 300,000 spectators and it
was used exclusively for horse chariot races. In Augustan era it
became truly grandiose (around 10BC). The few remains belong to
Trajan’s period and nowadays it has remained only a large
esplanade. The little tower near Porta Capena dates from the Middle
Ages; it was part of a fortress built by the noble Frangipani family.