The work in the Circus Maximus, taking place in the area of the hemicycle, regards the conservation and enhancement of the monument, in particular the consolidation and restoration of several stretches of wall that are in a precarious condition, and its improvement from an urban-environmental point of view. The aim is to create a usable area that is both coherent and easily accessible. Therefore, a number of specific investigations were carried out, together with careful cleaning, in the areas heavily disturbed in the 1930s-40s when the monument was used as the site for exhibitions and recreational activities. The most important find was a long, straight stretch of the Circus’ substructures, the only one known to date, on the Aventine side. This was a badly damaged and truncated part of the internal structure in cement conglomerate. Furthermore, in the adjacent semicircular sector, in correspondence with the corner between via del Circo Massimo and piazza Porta Capena, the cleaning of other parts of the brick-built wall of the ima cavea provided a relatively complete vision of this sector of the tiers and the system of vomitoriae providing access. In the external zone, in fornix VI, a taberna was identified with a moderately well-preserved opus spicatum floor. Embedded in the floor was a large dolium (diameter circa 1.30 m), whose contents have not been excavated for the moment. Investigations were undertaken on the Moletta tower (first mentioned by the sources in 1145). Here, the results of the excavation undertaken inside the tower in order to assess the structure’s stability were of great interest. Several floor levels were identified, linked not only to variations in the external levels, but also to the various changes in the structure’s use over the centuries. Lastly, the foundations of the tower itself were identified, constituted by large travertine blocks which seemed related to a collapse. Finally, the work to reorganise the ground surface in the area corresponding to the track uncovered the remains of workshop-type structures (end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century), as well as large blocks of reinforced cement probably relating to the Mostra Autarchica del Minerale Italiano (1939-1940).

In 2011, as part of an ongoing redevelopment project, excavations were undertaken in the Circus Maximus. The excavation of the monument’s exterior, in reality carried out in the 1930s, uncovered the external road and the structures relating to the building in front, perhaps a _horreum_, as documented by the _Forma Urbis_. Several rooms, perhaps _tabernae_, faced onto the road. Three were found on the eastern edge of the road, together with a network of sewers, which included a very large drain. The excavation of the _tabernae_ was limited due to the need to construct the roadbed for the road surface above. A tank/drinking trough constructed in travertine blocks situated between two of the circus’ piers was also uncovered. Overall, the entire area appears to have undergone various interventions which, during the course of time, reinforced the structure and also affected its practicability, in particular following the construction, in the imperial period, of various buttresses to support the vault of the external walkway and façade.

Work at the Circus Maximus, at the semicircular end, concerns the conservation and enhancement of the monument, in particular the consolidation and restoration of several sections of wall and its modernisation from a planning-environmental point of view. The objective is the creation of a useable space, with a uniform and easily accessible ground surface. Therefore, a number of specific interventions were undertaken, together with careful cleaning in areas that were heavily altered in the 1930’s and 40’s, when the monument was used as a site for exhibitions and recreational activities. The most important find was made along the circus’ substructures, on the Aventine side. This was a heavily damaged and cut part of the internal structure of cement conglomerate. The cleaning of other sections of the brick wall of the _ima cavea_ provided a relatively complete picture of this sector of the seating tiers and of the system of _vomitoria_ providing access to them. To the exterior, in _fornix_ VI, a _taberna_ was identified, its _opus spicatum_ floor quite well-preserved. A large _dolium_ (diameter c. 1.30 m) was embedded in the floor, the fill of which has yet to be excavated. The Moletta tower (cited in documents from 1145 onwards) was also investigated. The investigation inside it, undertaken in order to check the building’s stability, produced interesting results. A number of floor levels were identified, linked not only to the variations in the exterior ground level, but also to changes in use during its occupation. Lastly, during work to modernise the ground surface in the area corresponding with the track, the foundations of a craft-working structure (late 1800-early 1900s) were uncovered, together with walls and large blocks of reinforced cement probably relating to the Mostra Autarchica del Minerale Italiano (1939-1940). During 2012, a number of interventions relating to the general organisation of the archaeological area were completed, such as the new fencing and the viewing terrace, the installation of services and the system to contain the earthworks. At the same time work to consolidate and restore parts of the eastern hemicycle began.

In 2013, restoration, consolidation, and reconstruction interventions continued, together with the laying out of visitors’ routes. In particular, several vaults of the arches in the east (Palatine side) and west (Aventine side) hemicycles were consolidated and partially reconstructed. The pillars consolidating the external facade were restored. A pumping system was put into place in order to lower the level of the water table and technical analyses were undertaken to monitor the Torre della Molfetta prior to the proposed consolidation and restoration. The investigations in the sector between the Torre della Molfetta and the Arch of Titus brought to light a further stretch of the early medieval basalt surface that was part of the “acqua Mariana” channel (1122), below the foundations of buildings that were demolished in the 1930s.

During 2014, the restoration of the walls in both sectors of the hemicycle was completed and visitor trails in the archaeological area created. Further restoration work was undertaken on the Torre della Moletta and the internal stratigraphy excavated down to the foundation levels. The excavations exposed a number of floor surfaces, generically datable to between the 14th and 20th centuries, and channels relating to the passage of the nearby “acqua Mariana” (an irrigation ditch). The foundation level covered a layer containing silt and architectural fragments from the nearby Ach of Titus. In the east hemicycle, _sondages_ in the _fornicis_ I, VI, X-XIII identified several late antique occupation phase in rooms of the circus. The archaeological investigations continue in the central part of the hemicycle, the area of the Arch of Titus.

In 2015, the interventions to prepare the archaeological area for opening to the public were completed. In particular, the floor of the inner ambulatory was uncovered and restored, and the area of the arches, travertine steps, and _basoli_ floor surfaces in the hemicycle were put in order. The area outside the building site was also linked to the archaeological area via the creation of a pathway; the steps and the modern _spina_ were also restored. The stratigraphic excavation of the area around the arch of Titus was completed: the interventions undertaken between 2014 and 2015 were concentrated on either side of the central arch occupied by the medieval aqueduct, the Aqua Mariana (of which the reused marble blocks constituting its floor remain _in situ_ ). The first and third plinth from the east, with rear pilasters, were uncovered, together with another section of the wall in travertine _opus_ _quadratum_, while only a fragment of the fourth plinth survived on the Roman floor surface. Several marble and brick structures were identified, built on the floor in front of the arch in the late antique-early medieval period, together with a large conduit in brick and marble slabs, probably the Forma Iopia, which crossed the central arch and cut the floor level the arch stands on. In both trenches on either side of the central channel of the Aqua Mariana there were deposits of sand and clay rich in organic and faunal remains datable to between the 9th and 10th centuries, which covered the floor level of the arch up to a certain height. Large and small architectural fragments in Luni marble relating to the upper parts of the monument were found at various levels, down to that on which the plinth bases rested. All of the stone fragments recovered, including some letters from the inscription, have been placed in the piazzale in front of the Torre della Moletta.