Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Constantine

The Rome audio-guided tour presents you, right next to the Colosseum, with the Arch of Constantine, the largest of the triumphal arches of the city.

The victory of the Milvian Bridge

Built between 312 and 315 after Jesus Christ, the arch was commissioned by the Senate to celebrate the ten years of the reign of the emperor Constantine and to recall his victory over Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. This episode marked a turning point in the history of the West: shortly before the battle, Constantine is said to have had a vision, that of a chi-rho, a symbol formed of the first letters of the name of Christ, accompanied by words assuring him of victory. Although pagan, he had this sign painted on the shields of his soldiers. Victorious despite the inferiority of his troops, he then dedicated his victory to the God of the Christians and put an end to their persecution, opening the way to the spread of Christianity in the Empire. The arch, raised on the triumphal way that brought the armies back to the Capitoline, was erected in barely two years.

What there is to see

The Arch of Constantine charms with its imposing proportions and its rich sculpted decoration, partly reused from other monuments. A witness of a decisive moment in the history of Rome and of Christianity, it stands right next to the Colosseum. It is a major stage, magnificent to contemplate along the triumphal way.

Practical information

The Arch of Constantine is between the Colosseum and the Palatine hill, in Rome. An open-air monument, it can be contemplated freely at all hours, along the walk in ancient Rome.

What does the Arch of Constantine commemorate?

The ten years of the reign of Constantine and his victory over Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge.

Why was this victory important?

It led Constantine to put an end to the persecution of Christians and favoured the spread of Christianity in the Empire.