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Temple of Portunus

Name: Temple of Portunus
Rating: 4.5

4.5 ·

Discover the Temple of Portunus, a rare survivor from Republican Rome. Walk around its Ionic columns and travertine-and-tufa walls beside the Tiber, admiring pre-Imperial design without the crowds of Rome's bigger monuments.

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Reasons to go

Built between 80 and 70 BC, it's one of Rome's oldest surviving temples from the Republican era.
Its survival is due to conversion into a Christian church during the Middle Ages, unlike most Republican-era temples.
Its Ionic columns and travertine-and-tufa build show Etruscan and Greek influence distinct from later Imperial-style temples.

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Full description

Built between roughly 80 and 70 BC near what was once the Forum Boarium, Rome's ancient cattle market and river port, this rectangular temple owes its remarkable state of preservation to its conversion into a Christian church in the Middle Ages. Its Ionic columns and travertine-and-tufa construction offer a clear, close-up look at pre-Imperial Roman temple design, distinct from the more famous Imperial-era monuments.

Standing quietly beside the Temple of Hercules Victor in a small piazza near the Tiber, it draws far fewer visitors than its scale and age would suggest it deserves. A rewarding stop for anyone interested in ancient Roman religious architecture.

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Address

Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 00186 Roma RM, Italy · Ripa

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Booking

Walk-in

Duration

15 min

Best time

early morning, early evening or evening

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

Combine with the adjacent Temple of Hercules Victor for a two-temple stop in one small piazza
it's free and viewable from outside only
visit in the early evening, when the surrounding piazza empties out and the light is best for photos.

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Reviews

The Temple of Portunus is a beautiful and well-preserved Roman monument. Its elegant columns and peaceful surroundings make it a lovely stop while exploring Rome. Even though it’s small, it holds great historical value. The location near the Tiber and other landmarks makes it easy to visit. Highly recommended for…

Misha Smiley

5/5

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