Situated proudly near the famous Colosseum, the Arco di Costantino is more than just a photogenic stop.
Notably the largest and best preserved of Rome's surviving triumphal arches, the Arco di Costantino was constructed as a tribute to Emperor Constantine for his victory over the pagan Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312. Standing at an impressive height of 25m, this monument is hard to miss and makes for an excellent photo stop on the way to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.
Intricately carved out of a single massive block of grey and white marble, this significant monument features a grand central gateway, supported by eight Corinthian columns. Feast your eyes on history as the two arches are embellished with ornate reliefs pillaged from earlier Roman emperors' memorials. Not only do they depict their conquests, but the inscriptions also extol Constantine's successes. Try spotting the Meta Sudan ('sweating cone'), which are the remnants of an ancient fountain bulldozed by Mussolini in the 1930s.
Read More