Rome's Largest Triumphal Arch

Right beside the Colosseum, between the amphitheater and the Palatine, stands the Arch of Constantine: the largest and best-preserved triumphal arch in Rome. Over 20 m tall and pierced by three archways (openings), it was raised in 315 AD to celebrate Emperor Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312 AD). One of the city's most photographed landmarks and the perfect backdrop to the Colosseum, it is a history book carved in stone.

A Monument "Built from Other Monuments"

The arch's most fascinating trait is that it reuses reliefs and sculptures taken from older monuments (from the eras of Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius): the so-called spolia (architectural pieces salvaged from earlier buildings). Alongside these "recycled" works, 4th-century reliefs were added. The result is a genuine collage of different eras, telling three centuries of imperial art in a single monument. We dig deeper into this in our article on the spolia of the Arch of Constantine.

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What to See

  • The three archways and the imposing marble structure.
  • The Hadrianic tondi (roundels) and the reliefs of Marcus Aurelius.
  • The frieze narrating Constantine's campaign.
  • The inscriptions, including the famous instinctu divinitatis ("at the prompting of the divinity").

We go deeper in our guide to what to see at the Arch of Constantine.

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge

The arch celebrates the victory that changed history: the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, tied to the tradition of the sign of the cross and the phrase "In hoc signo vinces" ("in this sign you shall conquer"). That victory paved the way to freedom of worship for Christians. We tell the story in our article on the Arch of Constantine and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

How to Visit

The arch sits in a public space and can be admired for free from the outside at any time (the area immediately around it falls within the Colosseum archaeological circuit). To get there, see how to reach the Arch of Constantine. It pairs naturally with a visit to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arch of Constantine? Rome's largest triumphal arch, raised in 315 AD beside the Colosseum to celebrate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge.

Why does it reuse older sculptures? For reasons of prestige, time, and ideology: the reliefs from the eras of Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius (the "spolia") linked Constantine to the great emperors of the past.

Is there a fee to see it? No: the arch can be admired for free from the outside at any time. The area immediately around it falls within the Colosseum archaeological circuit.

Where is it located? Between the Colosseum and the Palatine, in the heart of Rome's ancient archaeological area.

What exactly does it celebrate? Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, an event that also marked a turning point in the history of Christianity.

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Article #524 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026