4.3 ·
Step up to the Mouth of Truth, the ancient marble face that made Roman Holiday famous. Slide your hand into its mouth for the classic photo, then explore the church behind it and the nearby ancient temples.
Reasons to go
Full description
Originally likely a Roman drain cover or fountain decoration carved with the face of a river god, the Bocca della Verità sits in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Medieval legend claimed it would snap shut on the hand of anyone who told a lie while holding it inside its mouth, a superstition that became a global photo tradition after Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck used it in the 1953 film Roman Holiday.
The queue to pose with it can be longer than the two-minute stop itself deserves, but it's a fun, low-effort addition to a walk through the area. Pair it with the church behind it and the ancient temples nearby for a fuller stop.
Originally likely a Roman drain cover or fountain decoration carved with the face of a river god, the Bocca della Verità sits in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Medieval legend claimed it would snap shut on the hand of anyone who told a lie while holding it inside its mouth, a superstition that became a global photo tradition after Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck used it in the 1953 film Roman Holiday.
The queue to pose with it can be longer than the two-minute stop itself deserves, but it's a fun, low-effort addition to a walk through the area. Pair it with the church behind it and the ancient temples nearby for a fuller stop.
Address
Hours
Booking
Duration
15 min
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
Intensity
Easy pace
Good to know
Reviews
This is a famous tourist spot made famous by *Roman Holiday*. I got off at the Circo Massimo subway station and arrived just before 10:00 a.m., glancing at the Circo Massimo as I walked by. There was already a line of about 30 people, but thanks to the staff’s smooth guidance and their cooperation during photo-taking,…
Hiroki
1/5📍 Nearby spots
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