All places on the map· Rome
Mouth of Truth
Sight4.3 · 23 8133.8 · 1 925≈ 22 minFree entry1.4 km from the center
An ancient carved marble disc depicting a horned river god or Oceanus, set in the portico of Rome's Santa Maria in Cosmedin church. Weighing over a ton, this massive relic dates back to the 1st century BC. According to medieval legend, the stone mask bites off the hand of anyone who tells a lie with their palm placed inside its mouth, a superstition made globally iconic by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday.
Highlights
- Ancient carved marble disc over 1.7 metres in diameter
- Centuries-old legend testing the honesty of visitors
- Iconic filming location from the classic movie Roman Holiday
- Historic 8th-century Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Opening hours
| Mon | 09:30 – 17:50 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:30 – 17:50 |
| Wed | 09:30 – 17:50 |
| Thu | 09:30 – 17:50 |
| Fri | 09:30 – 17:50 |
| Sat | 09:30 – 17:50 |
| Sun | 09:30 – 17:50 |
What’s nearby
Chiesa di Santa Maria in Cosmedin
0 min walk · 25 m
Temple of Hercules Victor
1 min walk · 79 m
Forum Boarium
1 min walk · 82 m
Temple of Portunus
2 min walk · 120 m
Chiesa di San Vincenzo de Paoli all'Aventino
2 min walk · 143 m
Arch of Janus
2 min walk · 165 m
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista Decollato
2 min walk · 186 m
San Giorgio in Velabro
3 min walk · 209 m
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