Roma in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Latium, Rome, Italy — Central Italy (Tyrrhenian Coast)

Basilica di Massenzio (o di Constantino)
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Basilica of Maxentius (or of Constantine)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 4, 2025

1. Basilica di Massenzio (o di Constantino) / Basilica of Maxentius (or of Constantine) Marker

Inscription. La distruzione della Basilica fu conseguenza di uno o più terremoti, e prosegui a lungo nei secoli successivi con le sistematiche spoliazioni dei materiali da costruzione. L'ultima delle colonne super[last few letters are unreadable], poste davanti ai piloni, fu spostata da Paolo V (1613-1615) in Piazza S. Maria Maggiore, dove sostiene la statua della Vergine. Del grandioso edificio nel medioevo si perse il ricordo, e a lungo venne confuso con il Tempio della Pace. Solo nel 1819 l'architetto Antonio Nibby restituì alla basilica il suo vero nome.

The Basilica was destroyed by one or more earthquakes and by the systematic looting of its building materials over the following centuries. The last of the surviving columns standing in front of the piers was moved by Paul V (1613-1615) to Piazza S. Maria Maggiore, where it supports the statue of the Virgin. All memory of the magnificent building was lost in the Middle Ages and was long confused with the Temple of Peace. Only in 1819 did the architect Antonio Nibby restore the basilica's rightful name.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1613.

Location. 41° 53.481′ N, 12° 29.309′

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E. Marker is in Roma, Lazio (Latium, Rome), in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale. It can be reached from Clivo di Venere Felice. The marker is near the basilica, which is on the northern end of the Roman Forum park site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Roma, Lazio 00186, Italy. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

the Schengen Area,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire

and specifically also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Basilica di Massenzio (o di Constantino) / Basilica of Maxentius (or of Constantine) (here, next to this marker); Casa Aurea di Nerone / Nero's Golden House (here, next to this marker); Neronian Foundations / Fondazioni Neroniane (within shouting distance of this marker); Horrea Vespasiani / Vespasian's warehouses (within shouting distance of this marker); Arch of Titus / Arco di Tito (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Neronian Foundations / Fondazioni Neroniane (within shouting distance of this marker); Via Nova (within shouting distance of this marker); Arco di Tito / Arch of Titus (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roma.

More about this marker. Another marker about the basilica with the same name but different text can be found nearby.

Regarding Basilica di Massenzio (o di Constantino) / Basilica of Maxentius (or of Constantine). Constantine defeated

Basilica di Massenzio image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 4, 2025

2. Basilica di Massenzio

Maxentius in the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312, a success that gave him control of the Western Roman Empire. Some accounts of the battle also say that Constantine pledged to fight for the Christian God, and that the victory there was a key step toward the Edict of Milan a year later in 313, which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Also see . . . Basilica of Maxentius. From the Rome Tourism website.

Excerpt: "The basilica has recently been identified as the seat of the Urban Prefecture, the most important late antiquity city’s office; in the 4th century the Secretarium Senatus, the seat of the court for the trials of the members of the Senate, previously located at the Curia Iulia, would have been transferred here."

(Submitted on September 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Courtesy of National Media Museum (UK); via Wikimedia Commons, circa 1860

3. Basilica di Massenzio

Basilica di Massenzio at the Roman Forum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons, 2010

4. Basilica di Massenzio at the Roman Forum

Bust of Maxentius from Dresden (Germany) State Collection image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Landon (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons, July 22, 2023

5. Bust of Maxentius from Dresden (Germany) State Collection

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.

Basilica di Massenzio (o di Constantino)⎯⎯⎯Basilica of Maxentius (or of Constantine)

Basilica di Massenzio (o di Constantino)
⎯⎯⎯
Basilica of Maxentius (or of Constantine)