Temple of Vesta

The Temple of Vesta is a Roman temple in Tivoli featuring ten surviving Corinthian columns that support a concrete podium faced with travertine blocks and displaying a decorated frieze with bucrania and garlands. The round structure sits above the Aniene River valley, commanding a view across the landscape.

Built in the late 2nd century BCE by Lucius Gellius, the structure served as a Roman religious sanctuary. During the Middle Ages, it was converted into a church called Santa Maria Rotunda and used by the local community for centuries.

The structure reflects a blend of Italian construction traditions with Greek influences, visible in its high cylindrical base and coffered ceiling. Visitors can observe these mixed design choices in the remaining architectural details.

The site sits above the Aniene River on slightly elevated ground with regular opening hours and guided tours available. Visitors should walk around the structure to view the architectural details from different angles and understand the Roman construction methods.

During the 1790s, an English nobleman named Lord Bristol devised a plan to dismantle and transport the entire structure to London. The ambitious scheme never materialized, and the temple remains in its original location today.