Arch of Constantine in Rome: what to see up close

Almost everyone who comes to the Colosseum walks right past the Arch of Constantine. It stands in an open area, no ticket is sold for it, so tourists photograph the monument in a couple of minutes and move on. Yet it is the largest surviving triumphal arch in Rome, and most of its decoration was taken from earlier buildings (according to the monument card from the city tourist office).

It was erected in 315 by order of the Senate, in honor of Constantine's victory over Maxentius. The battle itself took place on October 28, 312 at the Milvian Bridge, and the inscription on the attic directly calls the defeated man a tyrant (monument description from the Rome tourist office).

Below you will find a breakdown of the three tiers of decoration, prices for the neighboring Colosseum, directions from the metro, and short answers to frequently asked questions.

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Arch of Constantine: what you need to know

💡 In short:

• No ticket is needed for the arch: it is an open monument, you can approach it at any time.
• Four things are worth seeing: the frieze of Constantine, the tondi of Hadrian, the statues of the Dacians, and the inscription on the attic.
• The easiest way to get there is by metro line B, Colosseo station, then walk along the amphitheater.
• The neighboring Colosseum operates with timed tickets; for prices and hours see the official park website.

The arch stands between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, within the archaeological park. You do not need to pay for the monument itself, but the neighboring sites operate with tickets and time slots, and in high season they sell out in advance. So the arch is convenient to see together with the Colosseum: you arrive at one metro station and cover three sights at once.

History of construction

© NikonZ7II (Paris Orlando) · CC BY-SAPhoto: NikonZ7II (Paris Orlando), CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

In the third century the empire was losing stability. Battles with Germanic tribes were fought on the borders, while inside the country provincial governors raised their own armies and declared themselves emperors. The country was held together by a military leader who managed to reassemble it. That leader was Constantine.

He grew up in a military family: his father Constantius Chlorus governed the western part of the empire. The young commander fought barbarians on the banks of the Rhine and earned authority among the soldiers. After his father's death the army proclaimed him heir to the throne, and to gain full power he only had to defeat his rival (according to the Wikipedia article on the arch).

In 306 Rome was ruled by Maxentius, who relied on the Praetorian Guard and made decisions based on the divinations of priests. Constantine formed an alliance with other provincial co-rulers and led his army to the capital. The only serious obstacle on that path was the Tiber (reference on Constantine's rivals).

At the Milvian Bridge Maxentius met him with an army that was larger in number. The battle ended in a rout: Maxentius fled and drowned in the Tiber. Thus Constantine became the sole ruler of the Western Empire.

In 315 the Senate decreed that a triumphal arch be erected in honor of this victory (arch page from the Rome tourist office). Most of the decoration was not carved anew: ready-made reliefs, statues, and columns were taken from other ancient monuments. Only some of the reliefs were carved for the arch, among them the frieze with Constantine's campaign. There was a precise political calculation in this. By assembling fragments from different eras in one monument, Constantine showed that the empire was united again.

According to accounts from that time, before the battle at the Milvian Bridge Constantine's soldiers painted the monogram of Christ on their shields. The emperor believed the standard brought good luck, but he did not openly bet on the new religion. He acted like a cautious diplomat: society was united around Christianity later.

Description of the arch

The arch has three bays, and the central one is noticeably taller and wider than the side ones. A marble base supports the entire structure: the monument is 21 m high, 25.7 m wide, and 7.4 m deep, while the central passage rises to 11.45 m (according to data on the arch's construction). The facade is framed by eight Corinthian columns, four on each side. The pedestals are carved with Roman soldiers, captive barbarians, and the goddess of victory Victoria.

Eight round medallions on the second tier are framed with porphyry. They were carved under Hadrian, and the heads of the emperor were later reworked to depict Constantine and Licinius. The scenes show not wars but hunting and sacrifice: the ruler rides out with his retinue, one companion holds a horse by the bridle, another leads a dog. On other medallions, hunters bring gifts to Silvanus, Apollo, Hercules, and Diana. These tondi have nothing to do with Constantine's victories, yet they were placed on the arch: this emphasized his success in all endeavors.

A frieze with Constantine's military scenes runs along the lower section. Compared with earlier reliefs, it is carved more simply: lines lose their crispness, figure proportions are distorted. But there is more meaning here than elegance. You see the army's march, the siege of a city, the battle with Maxentius, the entry into Rome, and the distribution of money to the people. The frieze reads like a short chronicle of victory, and it is worth viewing from left to right.

The reliefs are easy to study by tier: where each detail came from is shown in the table.

We checked the tier layout against the tier diagram and the description of the reliefs; the condition of the decoration is also covered there (09/2026).

Attic decoration

© Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The upper tier is considered the best part of the monument. Above the columns stand individual statues: these are captive Dacians in long trousers, cloaks, and pointed caps. Romans wore togas, so the clothing immediately marks them as foreigners. The figures are shown in poses of the defeated: heads lowered, hands folded together. Between the statues you can see panels with a cavalry attack and a legion's assault on barbarians.

On the attic of the north side are panels from another monument, from the era of Marcus Aurelius. The sculptures depict military actions against the Germans and Sarmatians. The emperor is shown in different garments: a short tunic, a mantle, a campaign cloak. A separate scene tells of the interrogation of a captured Germanic chieftain. Nearby you can examine the triumphal return of Marcus Aurelius to Rome, the distribution of money to the people, and a purification rite with sacrifice.

In the center of the attic an inscription is carved. The Senate thanks Constantine for freeing Rome from tyranny. The text says that the emperor was victorious by divine inspiration.

Tickets and opening hours

Entry to the Arch of Constantine is free. It is an open area within the archaeological park, and it has no fixed opening hours: the monument is visible from the street both day and evening (official monument page).

Paid tickets start at the Colosseum. A combined ticket costs €18 for an adult and gives one entry to the Colosseum at a selected time plus one entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine area (as of 09/2026, official park ticket office). The extended Full Experience version costs €24 and adds the arena and the amphitheater's underground areas (as of 09/2026, official park ticket office). Entry is free for children under 18, but the time slot must be booked in advance, otherwise in high season you will be left without a time (same source).

The slot is tied to a specific hour, so take the morning: after opening, a line forms at the entrance, and by midday the Forum gets hot. Tickets for the Colosseum with a time slot are sold on Tiqets: there you can also see which times are still available for your date.

Where it is and how to get there

The arch stands in the square in front of the Colosseum, on the old triumphal road between the Arch of Titus and the Circus Maximus (location description from the tourist office). You will pass it if you walk from the metro to the Colosseum and on toward the Roman Forum.

The easiest way to get there is by metro: line B, Colosseo station. From the exit you walk along the amphitheater, and within a couple of minutes you reach the arch. Buses 51, 75, 81, 85, 87, and 118 and tram 3 also stop at the square (as of 09/2026, Colosseum access map). It is better not to drive: parking in this area is paid and almost always full.

Arch of Constantine on the map

Below is a map with the monument marked. For orientation: Colosseo metro station, then east along the Colosseum.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit the Arch of Constantine?

Admission is free. The monument stands in an open area, no ticket is sold for it, and you can approach it at any time. You only pay for the neighboring sites: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill operate on a single timed-entry ticket, so that is what you plan your money and time around.

How do I get to the arch from the metro?

Colosseo station on line B is right by the Colosseum. Exit to the street and walk along the amphitheater: you will reach the arch in a couple of minutes. This route is convenient because you see both monuments one after another, spend nothing on a taxi, and do not have to look for parking.

Can you walk under the arch?

Yes, pedestrians pass through the central and side arches. You cannot climb up, but from the ground you can see almost everything: the reliefs on the pedestals, the round tondos on the second tier, and the statues on the attic. Allow about twenty minutes for your visit.

What should I look at first on the arch?

Start with the frieze of Constantine: it is the latest and the easiest to read. Then move to the round tondos of Hadrian on the second tier and the statues of Dacians at the top. Finish by reading the inscription on the attic: the Senate thanks the emperor for liberating Rome.

Why are there no Christian symbols on the arch?

The Edict of Milan in 313 had already permitted Christianity, but it was not yet the state religion. Constantine chose a cautious formula of divine inspiration that satisfied both pagans and Christians. Open symbols of faith appeared on other monuments later.

In short: what to book

• One day in Rome: book a Colosseum slot for the first morning, and see the arch half an hour before that.
• Trip with kids: Colosseum first, then the arch and the square, and leave the Roman Forum for a second outing.
• Budget option: the arch is free, the square in front of it is too, and you will only pay for the Colosseum and the Forum.

Colosseum tickets sell out in advance, so start with those: check time slots before your trip, and look at prices and hotels in Rome if you plan to stay overnight near the Colosseum.