Circo Massimo

The Circo Massimo is not a stadium, and yet it always was one. The long valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills held ancient Rome's chariot races, on a site that at its greatest extent took far more spectators than any modern stadium. Today the ground is a public park and one of the most spectacular concert settings in Europe.

A concert between Rome's hills

From the field you look up at the ruins of the imperial palaces on the Palatine — in evening light, and lit after dark, a backdrop any stage show has to compete with. Which is why the biggest names playing Rome have for years chosen this over the Stadio Olimpico.

Depending on the layout the site takes a crowd in the tens of thousands. There are no stands; it is standing room throughout, on uneven ground.

What to allow for

The surface is grass and earth rather than concrete or stadium turf — dusty when dry and the opposite when wet. Sturdy footwear is essential. There is almost no shade, and Rome in August stays hot into the evening: bring water, drink early, and do not leave the journey back to the last minute.

Location and getting there

The great advantage over the Stadio Olimpico: the Circo Massimo lies in the historic centre and has its own metro station at the site. The Colosseum is walkable, and so is the Forum.

For accommodation almost any central location works — around Termini, in Trastevere or in Monti you are there in minutes. A concert here fits into a Rome trip with no logistics at all.