Piazza della Bocca della Verità
Piazza della Bocca della Verità
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The area
Neighbourhood: Aventine
Contrary to the chaos of the city, the Aventine is Rome’s oasis. A neighbourhood made up of a patchwork of ancient churches, hidden gardens, private homes and embassies, peace and quiet is top priority and the vibe definitely friends and family. Take a walk around the Aventine and you’ll find a treasure hunt of surprises like the clever little keyhole at the Knights of Malta entrance (the only place you’ll find a line) along with Parco Savello (Giardino degli Aranci) next to the ancient Santa Sabina church. Keep your eyes on the 1960s architecture, several modern buildings are built atop Rome’s original 4th century BC wall.
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4.0
765 reviews
Excellent
217
Very good
288
Average
220
Poor
37
Terrible
4
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,163 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
Piazza della Bocca della Verita is an interesting corner of ancient Rome. There are a number of ancient sights clustered together in the one spot so you can see quite a bit in a short time. If you only have a day or two in Rome, then you can probably skip it but if you have longer, it’s a good area to explore.
By far, the most popular sight here is the marble face embedded in the walls of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The face is instantly recognisable from postcards.
Known as the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth), it attracts a long line of tourists, all waiting to stick their hand into the dark, cold mouth and test the legend that says that the mask will bite the hand of a liar.
The other main sight is the church itself which has an underground crypt and the skull that may or may not be, St Valentine.
In the grassy area across from the church, is the Fountain of the Tritons (minus water), the ancient Temple of Portunus and the very pretty circular Temple of Hercules the Victor.
We combined a visit here with exploring the Jewish Quarter and the Theatre of Marcellus ruins. It was an easy walk from the piazza to these other sights.
By far, the most popular sight here is the marble face embedded in the walls of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The face is instantly recognisable from postcards.
Known as the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth), it attracts a long line of tourists, all waiting to stick their hand into the dark, cold mouth and test the legend that says that the mask will bite the hand of a liar.
The other main sight is the church itself which has an underground crypt and the skull that may or may not be, St Valentine.
In the grassy area across from the church, is the Fountain of the Tritons (minus water), the ancient Temple of Portunus and the very pretty circular Temple of Hercules the Victor.
We combined a visit here with exploring the Jewish Quarter and the Theatre of Marcellus ruins. It was an easy walk from the piazza to these other sights.
Written 3 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China174,642 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
This is a grassy public square located within the area of what was Forum Boarium, an ancient cattle market, located on the level grounds just to the east of the Tiber River and west of Palatine Hill. Within the piazza grounds you will find two ancient buildings, the Temple of Portuno and Temple of Hercules Victor. You will also see an pleasant Fountain of Tritons, the work of Carlo Bizzaccheri (1715).
Other points of interest at Piazza della Bocca della Verita include the medieval Santa Maria in Cosmedin church where you find the iconic Bocca dealla Verita (Mouth of Truth) stone. The only surviving quadrifron arch in Ancient Rome, the 4th-century Arch of Janus is situated just across the carpark directly west of the Temple of Portuno. It is worth a quick look-see as well.
Other points of interest at Piazza della Bocca della Verita include the medieval Santa Maria in Cosmedin church where you find the iconic Bocca dealla Verita (Mouth of Truth) stone. The only surviving quadrifron arch in Ancient Rome, the 4th-century Arch of Janus is situated just across the carpark directly west of the Temple of Portuno. It is worth a quick look-see as well.
Written 14 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen V
Tampa, FL3,154 contributions
Nov 2012 • Family
The piazza has a little of everything. You can line up to put your hand in the Mouth of Truth, or you can just take a picture of it from outside the wall. I opted for the latter. I was mostly interested in the ancient ruins of the Forum Boarium and the Fountain of the Tritons. From the church, you can see the remains of the Temple of Hercules Victor, the Temple of Portunus, and the Arch of Janus. That alone was worth the visit.
Written 26 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francesca S
Irvine, California, United States75 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
Most of us are familiar with "Roman Holiday" in which undercover journalist Gregory Peck frightens undercover Princess Ann by thrusting his sleeved hand into the Mouth of Truth and then pulling out a seemingly empty sleeve. My favourite film has perpetuated what I believe is a mediaeval legend that liars' hands will be bitten off!
The truth, though, is even more interesting, for "La Bocca della Verità" is, in actuality, a marble Etruscan manhole lid that once covered an entrance to the Cloaca Maxima, or the Great Sewer constructed in the 6th c BC by King Tarquinius Priscus in order to drain the swamp of what became the Roman Forum [The sewer, which exits into the nearby Tiber River, can still be seen today if you walk out a short way on the left side of Ponte Palatino and look back towards the river bank; it's the travertine-and-tufa arch set under the larger modern arch of the embankment.].
Since sewers are underground, they were thought by the ancients to lead to the underworld: thus the carved face takes the form of a bearded god of the underworld or, perhaps, a river god (One can just make out the 'lobster' claw on top of its head). One can also discern the marks of the ancient grappling hooks used to lift this heavy lid off of the sewer (The hooks went into the holes of the eyes and the mouth.).
Sometime after the 8th century AD when the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin was being built in the ancient Forum Boarium or cattle market, the cover was found and fixed (above a Corinthian capital) into the wall of the church, which was itself built over a Roman temple.
When you visit 'la Bocca', don't stop there, but enter the basilica. Be sure to look at the splendid Cosmatesque floor (made ca 12th century by Cosmati Brothers, who turned spolia—bits and pieces of recycled ancient marbles—into splendid mosaic designs that grace so many floors in Rome's churches). Then inspect the mediaeval choir; on the right side at the back of it you will discover a gate to stairs leading down under the altar, where you can get a glimpse the original ancient temple.
I have assigned one-to-two hours to a visit, since the "Bocca della Verità" is only the tip of the iceberg, as it were. After you have entered and thoroughly explored the church, walk outside and cross the street in the direction of the Temples of Hercules and Portunus. Then turn around and view Santa Maria in Cosmedin's marvellous square 12th-century bell tower.
If you then cross the street to the left, you will pass the Quadrifrons or four-fronted arch and view the 3rd-century AD Arco degli Argentarii, which features a marble relief of Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife, Julia Domna, and one of his two sons, Caracalla. You will also see the 'erased' relief of his other son Geta, whom his brother, as Emperor, declared a non-person. This relief is set into the side of the 7th-century church of San Georgio in Velabro.
If it could speak, the 'Mouth of Truth' would tell you that there is so much more to discover in its vicinity which is so incredibly rich in ancient history.
Take the time to explore and to enjoy!
The truth, though, is even more interesting, for "La Bocca della Verità" is, in actuality, a marble Etruscan manhole lid that once covered an entrance to the Cloaca Maxima, or the Great Sewer constructed in the 6th c BC by King Tarquinius Priscus in order to drain the swamp of what became the Roman Forum [The sewer, which exits into the nearby Tiber River, can still be seen today if you walk out a short way on the left side of Ponte Palatino and look back towards the river bank; it's the travertine-and-tufa arch set under the larger modern arch of the embankment.].
Since sewers are underground, they were thought by the ancients to lead to the underworld: thus the carved face takes the form of a bearded god of the underworld or, perhaps, a river god (One can just make out the 'lobster' claw on top of its head). One can also discern the marks of the ancient grappling hooks used to lift this heavy lid off of the sewer (The hooks went into the holes of the eyes and the mouth.).
Sometime after the 8th century AD when the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin was being built in the ancient Forum Boarium or cattle market, the cover was found and fixed (above a Corinthian capital) into the wall of the church, which was itself built over a Roman temple.
When you visit 'la Bocca', don't stop there, but enter the basilica. Be sure to look at the splendid Cosmatesque floor (made ca 12th century by Cosmati Brothers, who turned spolia—bits and pieces of recycled ancient marbles—into splendid mosaic designs that grace so many floors in Rome's churches). Then inspect the mediaeval choir; on the right side at the back of it you will discover a gate to stairs leading down under the altar, where you can get a glimpse the original ancient temple.
I have assigned one-to-two hours to a visit, since the "Bocca della Verità" is only the tip of the iceberg, as it were. After you have entered and thoroughly explored the church, walk outside and cross the street in the direction of the Temples of Hercules and Portunus. Then turn around and view Santa Maria in Cosmedin's marvellous square 12th-century bell tower.
If you then cross the street to the left, you will pass the Quadrifrons or four-fronted arch and view the 3rd-century AD Arco degli Argentarii, which features a marble relief of Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife, Julia Domna, and one of his two sons, Caracalla. You will also see the 'erased' relief of his other son Geta, whom his brother, as Emperor, declared a non-person. This relief is set into the side of the 7th-century church of San Georgio in Velabro.
If it could speak, the 'Mouth of Truth' would tell you that there is so much more to discover in its vicinity which is so incredibly rich in ancient history.
Take the time to explore and to enjoy!
Written 12 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle Costa
Rio de Janeiro, RJ39 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
Ancient roman temples near the Tiber River composing a bucolic landscape between the traffic of Roman. It is worth stopping a few minutes to enjoy the view.
Written 15 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fdnywife2018
Long Island, NY11 contributions
June 2018
Fun place to go and take pictures with kids. Lines were long but moved quickly in June. However, they have a strict closing time of 5:50 and if you aren't inside the gated area before that they turn you away.
Written 17 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mabellejee
Mount Vernon, IL149 contributions
Feb 2017 • Family
We arrived here early (10am) and the line was already walked out and down. We waited for 30 minutes and finally had enough. Not really worth going over for. If you are on a fast paced city visit, this place is a time-sucker and not necessary.
Written 4 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RufusTPerrie
Scotland, UK92 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We walked past this site and visited the church beside it. There was always a massive queue to put your hand in the mouth of the sculpture so we did not wait in the queue but get a photo of if from through the bars. I don't feel like I have missed out as i still got to see it. The church beside it was very nice and worth a look in.
Written 31 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miles_more
Bucharest, Romania89 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
For sure you have heard about it and it is worth a visit - not far away from Campidoglio (you can take a bus from teatro Marcello - 2 stations, several busses for that direction), open till 17:30, it's in front of a church (inside the church also the catacombe to be visited afterwards, there was archeological findings from 2nd century Hercules althar.
Written 28 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vicnot
Melbourne, Australia359 contributions
July 2015 • Family
My daughter knew all about it and was really looking forward to trying it out - although a bit worried about the question she'd get asked! Obviously then a parent needs to do it (with long sleeves) and pretend their hand got bitten off!
Just need to give a donation to the church.
Only need to be there for a few minutes, but the queue can be bad. We got there at 9, 2nd in line(opens at 9.30) and shortly afterwards hoardes of tour buses arrived.
Just need to give a donation to the church.
Only need to be there for a few minutes, but the queue can be bad. We got there at 9, 2nd in line(opens at 9.30) and shortly afterwards hoardes of tour buses arrived.
Written 12 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
slobodan_terzic
Novi Sad, Serbia
postoji li neka legenda ili priča vezana za usta istine?
Written 11 September 2017
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