Sant'Omobono Area

Sant'Omobono is an archaeological site in the Forum Boarium containing remains of two major temples dedicated to Fortuna and Mater Matuta with distinct architectural styles. The ruins display religious artifacts and show how temple construction changed across different periods.

Excavations beginning in 1937 revealed multiple construction phases including a temple from the 6th century BCE, establishing it as Rome's oldest temple site. The layered remains show how this location was repeatedly rebuilt and used over many centuries.

The location near Tiber Island served as a meeting place where Latin, Etruscan, and Mediterranean merchants gathered to conduct trade and perform religious rituals. Different peoples came together at this spot, mixing commerce with worship in daily life.

Research at the site involves collaboration between Rome municipality authorities, the University of Calabria, and the University of Michigan archaeologists. Visitors can observe ongoing excavation work and learn about modern archaeological methods in action.

The excavation preserves seventeen distinct occupational phases featuring sacrificial pits, wells, and an Etruscan inscription on an ivory hospitality token. These multiple layers reveal how people lived and worshipped at this location across long stretches of time.