Bocca della Verità, Ancient marble sculpture at Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Italy
The Bocca della Verità is a round marble disc with a bearded face on the church wall at Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome. The mask shows openings in the eyes, nose and mouth and measures 1.75 meters across.
The marble disc was made in the first century and may have been used as a drain cover at the Temple of Hercules Victor. It was later moved to the church wall where it has stood since medieval times.
The name comes from a medieval belief that the disc could reveal liars by biting their hands. Visitors today still place their hand inside the mouth opening and pose for photographs while reenacting the old legend.
The sculpture relief stands in the church portico and can be viewed during opening hours, which vary depending on the season. A small admission fee is charged for access to the courtyard area.
The disc appeared in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, where Gregory Peck placed his hand in the mouth and pretended it was being bitten off. This movie scene brought the relief worldwide attention and has drawn film fans here ever since.
Location: Roma
Diameter: 1.75 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Made from material: marble
Address: Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Hours: April 15-September 15 Monday-Sunday 09:30-17:50; September 16-April 14 09:30-16:50
Phone: +39066787759
Website: http://dpsusa.com/bocca_verita_history.shtml
GPS coordinates: 41.88826,12.48154
Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:06
Rome preserves more than 2,000 years of architectural history within its city limits, maintaining ancient temples and amphitheaters beside Renaissance churches and Baroque piazzas. The Roman Forum displays ruins from the first century BC through the fourth century AD, including government buildings and temples that formed the administrative heart of the Roman Empire. The Pantheon demonstrates Roman engineering with its concrete dome, while the Colosseum remains the largest ancient amphitheater ever built. The city evolved through subsequent centuries as papal patronage transformed medieval Rome into a showcase of Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture. The Vatican holds significant religious and artistic collections, including the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and Saint Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church building. Throughout the historic center, public squares like Piazza Navona preserve the footprint of ancient Roman structures while displaying Baroque fountains by Bernini and Borromini. The Trevi Fountain draws thousands of visitors daily to its 18th century facade, and the Spanish Steps connect different elevation levels of the city. Rome's neighborhoods maintain traditional Italian life around these monuments, with restaurants, shops and residences occupying buildings from various historical periods.
These sites in Rome display art, history, and architecture away from main routes. From ancient temples to small churches, the city reveals its historical depth. The locations include underground catacombs, Roman villas, Gothic churches, and industrial buildings with art collections.
Rome joins history with modern photography. The city spreads across several hills and holds buildings from different centuries, from ancient ruins to baroque churches and fountains. Photographers find subjects on every street corner, from large public squares to narrow alleys in old neighborhoods. The Colosseum and Roman Forum show the building techniques of ancient Rome. Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona present baroque design with flowing water and sculptures. The Spanish Steps serve as a meeting point where people rest on the steps and watch the activity below. The Pantheon has stood for nearly 2,000 years and impresses through its dome with a circular opening at the center. In Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica rises with its tall dome, and the Vatican Museums contain long galleries filled with artworks. Castel Sant'Angelo stands by the Tiber River and offers a wide view over the city's rooftops from above. Trastevere sits on the other side of the river and shows a different face of Rome: small squares, narrow streets with laundry lines between buildings, and restaurants with tables on the pavement. The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere has a golden mosaic on its facade that glows in the evening light. Campo de' Fiori is a market in the morning with vegetables and flowers, and in the evening the square fills with people. Via Margutta is a quiet street with galleries and plants on the building walls. The Aventine Keyhole shows St. Peter's Dome through a small opening in perfect framing. The Janiculum hill and Villa Borghese Gardens offer green spaces for walking and views over the city. Caracalla Baths and the Appian Way show Rome outside the center, where ancient structures stand in the landscape.
Cloaca Maxima
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Temple of Hercules Victor
84 m
Temple of Portunus
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Santa Maria in Cosmedin
102 m
Pons Aemilius
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Arch of Janus
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Basilica di Sant'Anastasia al Palatino
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Arcus Argentariorum
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Great Altar of Hercules
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San Giovanni Decollato
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Casa dei Crescenzi
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Santa Maria Egiziaca Church
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Fountain of the Tritons
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Ponte Palatino
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Palazzo della Pantanella a Piazza della Bocca della Verità
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San Vincenzo de Paoli all'Aventino
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Porta Trigemina
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Porta Flumentana
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Santa Maria del Sole Church
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Fontana di Lungotevere Aventino
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Fontana di Sarajevo al Velabro
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Chiesa di S. Bonaventura al Palatino
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Fountain
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Fountain
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Arciconfraternita di San Giovanni Decollato
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Convento di San Bonaventura al Palatino
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Oratorio di S. Giovanni Decollato
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Nice to have seen it. Afterwards, a tour around the church. There is a man who takes photos of you with your own device.
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