Mouth of Truth
Bocca della Verità
A marble mask made famous by “Roman Holiday.” According to legend, a liar who puts a hand into its mouth will have it bitten off. It is a classic photo stop, usually with a queue.
The Mouth of Truth is a marble disc about 1.75 metres in diameter, carved with the face of a river god. It may originally have been an ancient Roman drain cover or manhole cover. Since the 17th century, it has stood in the porch of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Medieval legend held that a liar who put a hand into its mouth would have it bitten off. In 1953, the film “Roman Holiday” made it world-famous, with a scene in which Gregory Peck pretends his hand has been bitten off. Expect to queue for photos, which are limited to a short moment per person. A small donation near the entrance is customary. The church itself is free to enter, and you can also see its medieval bell tower and floor. Nearby are the ancient Temple of Hercules Victor and the Temple of Portunus, and it is a short walk to the Circus Maximus.
Opening hours
09:30–17:50
Nearby sights
- Theatre of Marcellus
- Circus Maximus
- Capitoline Museums
- Tiber Island
- Roman Forum / Palatine Hill
- Aventine Keyhole & Orange Garden
- Altare della Patria (Vittoriano)
- Church of the Gesù