Bocca della Verita
Bocca della Verita
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksMonuments & Statues
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The legend of this 4th-century stone, located in the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, says that it eats the hand of liars.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Aventine
Contrary to the chaos of the city, the Aventine is Rome’s oasis. A neighborhood made up of a patchwork of ancient churches, hidden gardens, private homes and embassies, peace and quiet is top priority and the vibe definitely friends and family. Take a walk around the Aventine and you’ll find a treasure hunt of surprises like the clever little keyhole at the Knights of Malta entrance (the only place you’ll find a line) along with Parco Savello (Giardino degli Aranci) next to the ancient Santa Sabina church. Keep your eyes on the 1960s architecture, several modern buildings are built atop Rome’s original 4th century BC wall.
How to get there
  • Circo Massimo • 10 min walk
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See what travelers are saying

  • Peter C
    Island of Malta, Malta3,123 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit (and photo)!
    Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) is a marble mask located at the entrance of Santa Maria in Cosmodin church. It is free to visit but expect to find a queue of tourists all wanting to take a photo. While the walled mask has historical significance dating back to 1632, it is internationally renowned for being in famous scene from the film Roman Holiday (1953) with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 9, 2024
  • Brad
    Hong Kong, China177,556 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The iconic Mouth of Truth sculpture
    Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) is an ancient Roman marble mask sculpture that was probably a manhole originally. Probably would have been lost in history had it not acquired a myth during Medieval times that it would bite the hand off of liars who stuck their hand in its mouth. Since 1632, it has been located in the porch area or Santa Maria in Cosemedin and today you will find long queues of tourists waiting their turn for pictures next to it. It is a fun ancient sculpture to find and see if you are sightseeing in this area of Rome.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 15, 2024
  • BindiSE20
    London, United Kingdom8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit.
    The last time I visited Bocca della Verita there was no queue and it was free. That was around ten years ago and things have changed somewhat since then! I don't even think it's because more people have watched "Roman Holiday" – I think it's because everything is now "Instagram-able" so this must be considered as a great photo op. I would suggest visiting in the morning before the queue gets too long. There is an "attendant" there who tells people to move on if they take too long posing or taking too many photos. I read other people's reviews here before I visited and some people said it was two euros to enter. It's actually up to you want you want to donate. It's a lovely monument and I would definitely recommend visiting and getting a photo. If you haven't watched "Roman Holiday", you're missing out – it's a lovely film and Gregory Peck plays a little trick on Audrey Hepburn when they visit Bocca della Verita. Enjoy!!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 25, 2024
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom11,479 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Ancient Polygraph Test ?
    The Bocca della Verità (or Mouth of Truth) is a curious and fun kind of tourist attraction. What you see here is an ancient marble face set against the exterior wall on the left hand side of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. It’s thought that the giant disc was probably once a drain cover, possibly on the floor of the ancient Temple of Hercules across across the road. Its also thought that the mask depicts the face of the sea god, Oceanus. No one is sure but archaeologists point to the crab’s pincers and dolphins, tangled up in the mask’s hair and beard. I couldn’t see these in real life but later, looking at our photo, they were much clearer and I could make them out. The Mouth of Truth is not immediately obvious from the street but we knew we were in the right place when we saw the queue under the church portico. We joined the long line of tourists, all waiting to stick their hand into the dark, cold mouth and test the legend that says that the mask will bite the hand of a liar - a harsh punishment for a few fibs. Superstition aside, it’s an unexpectedly strange and eerie feeling to stick your hand inside the narrow, dark, cold opening. It’s a fun thing for kids to do. The line moves reasonably slowly but a guard/staff member helps to keep it moving by ushering people on if they are taking too many photos and holding things up. If all you want to do is have a quick look, you can see it without having to line up. Before leaving, make sure to have a look inside the church which has a small underground crypt and a preserved skull that may, or may not, belong to St Valentine. Entry by donation.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,909 reviews
Excellent
513
Very good
705
Average
524
Poor
126
Terrible
41

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Malgorzata
12,083 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
If you are in Rome then the mouth of truth should be on your list of things to see. Round marble medallion, about 175 cm in diameter, depicting the face of a bearded deity. From the 17th century in the vestibule of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome. There are many theories about its origin and function. His age is estimated at over 2000 years. It is believed, among others that the medallion could have been the cover of a water tank, part of the fountain or also served as a cover for the entrance to the ancient waterworks. According to medieval legend, the sculpture served as a lie detector - the suspect put his hand in the mouth, which was to close, biting off the limb when the person spoke untruth. There is usually a large queue of people who want to take a picture of themselves putting their hand in the mouth of truth. A very popular tourist attraction. You can't miss this spot.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dapper777
Monaco66,801 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Friends
What was it originally?
The generally expressed opinion is that the Mouth of Truth was a drain cover or a manhole cover, perhaps for the Cloaca Maxima sewer which was nearby, with a diameter of 1.80 mt, set in the wall of the pronaos of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
It has the appearance of a male face with a beard, eyes, nose and mouth are pierced to allow water to flow out.
William Wyler's film 'Roman Holiday", with the unforgettable protagonists Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, has dedicated the Mouth of Truth to an undisputed fame.
It was 1953 and has since entered the tourist imagination.
His fame is linked to popular tradition, for the belief that the mouth could bite the hand of those who had not stated the truth.
The queue of tourists who still want the photo with their hand in the mouth of the manhole cover certifies the strength of the photographic image.
Those who are afraid, probably must have said some lies....
Written August 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter C
Island of Malta, Malta3,123 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) is a marble mask located at the entrance of Santa Maria in Cosmodin church. It is free to visit but expect to find a queue of tourists all wanting to take a photo. While the walled mask has historical significance dating back to 1632, it is internationally renowned for being in famous scene from the film Roman Holiday (1953) with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
Written February 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BindiSE20
London, UK8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
The last time I visited Bocca della Verita there was no queue and it was free. That was around ten years ago and things have changed somewhat since then! I don't even think it's because more people have watched "Roman Holiday" – I think it's because everything is now "Instagram-able" so this must be considered as a great photo op.

I would suggest visiting in the morning before the queue gets too long. There is an "attendant" there who tells people to move on if they take too long posing or taking too many photos.
I read other people's reviews here before I visited and some people said it was two euros to enter. It's actually up to you want you want to donate.
It's a lovely monument and I would definitely recommend visiting and getting a photo. If you haven't watched "Roman Holiday", you're missing out – it's a lovely film and Gregory Peck plays a little trick on Audrey Hepburn when they visit Bocca della Verita. Enjoy!!
Written April 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,479 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
The Bocca della Verità (or Mouth of Truth) is a curious and fun kind of tourist attraction.
What you see here is an ancient marble face set against the exterior wall on the left hand side of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
It’s thought that the giant disc was probably once a drain cover, possibly on the floor of the ancient Temple of Hercules across across the road. Its also thought that the mask depicts the face of the sea god, Oceanus. No one is sure but archaeologists point to the crab’s pincers and dolphins, tangled up in the mask’s hair and beard. I couldn’t see these in real life but later, looking at our photo, they were much clearer and I could make them out.
The Mouth of Truth is not immediately obvious from the street but we knew we were in the right place when we saw the queue under the church portico.
We joined the long line of tourists, all waiting to stick their hand into the dark, cold mouth and test the legend that says that the mask will bite the hand of a liar - a harsh punishment for a few fibs.
Superstition aside, it’s an unexpectedly strange and eerie feeling to stick your hand inside the narrow, dark, cold opening. It’s a fun thing for kids to do.
The line moves reasonably slowly but a guard/staff member helps to keep it moving by ushering people on if they are taking too many photos and holding things up. If all you want to do is have a quick look, you can see it without having to line up.
Before leaving, make sure to have a look inside the church which has a small underground crypt and a preserved skull that may, or may not, belong to St Valentine.
Entry by donation.
Written May 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brad
Hong Kong, China177,556 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) is an ancient Roman marble mask sculpture that was probably a manhole originally. Probably would have been lost in history had it not acquired a myth during Medieval times that it would bite the hand off of liars who stuck their hand in its mouth. Since 1632, it has been located in the porch area or Santa Maria in Cosemedin and today you will find long queues of tourists waiting their turn for pictures next to it. It is a fun ancient sculpture to find and see if you are sightseeing in this area of Rome.
Written April 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marina and Co. Ltd
St. Petersburg, Russia81,569 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
The giant sewer hole, which is still located in the courtyard of house no. 3 on Via Velabro, was supposedly covered by a carved marble lid, which later had an interesting and unusual fate. Currently, this is one of the main tourist hits of the “Eternal City”, known as the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Veritä). A former sewer gate with a mask of a shaggy character was reinforced in the portico of the Chiesa di Santa Maria in Cosmedin church. There he worked for some time as an oracle (the mask was believed to make predictions, thanks to which its plastic copies adorned Italian slot machines), and also served as an investigative tool. The accused were supposed to pronounce oaths with their hand in the mouth of the mask - the executioner, prudently placed on the other side, cut off the hands of those whom the court considered guilty. Now a huge line is gathering at the Mouth of Truth to take a photo and experience this action for themselves - putting their hand into the slot to repeat the “feat” of Audrey Hepburn.🤣 And the church that sheltered them (Mouth) is much less popular, and completely undeservedly.☝️
Google
Written November 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

luiscruchinho
Cordoba, Argentina14,797 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
The Mouth of Truth is an ancient marble mask, it weighs 1,700 kg, it is estimated to be from the 1st century AD and since 1632 it has been located on the outside of one of the walls of the nearby Church of Santa María in Cosmedin. The sculpture has a diameter of 1.75 meters and represents a bearded male face in which the eyes, nose and mouth are pierced and hollow. It is not known for sure who the face represents, but there is some agreement that it is the god Neptune (Poseidon). The name Mouth of Truth appears in the year 1485, and the sculpture has been mentioned since then among the curiosities of Rome. This name refers to the belief that the mouth could betray unfaithful women. When we passed the entrance was closed, but you can still see that if it had been open you would have to pay 2 Euros to enter.
Google
Written January 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David Castaño
El Entrego, Spain5,687 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Family
Movies leave indelible marks on society and Roman Holidays has been no wonder, making the Bocca della Verita joke an eternal classic of the city, especially if you go with the children to tell them the legend of the loss of the hand if lies are told.

The photo is free, you just have to leave your will, although sometimes long lines form due to the number of people who crowd to take the mythical photo. Now they force you to enter the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin after taking the required photo, although it is not a church that has much to see, almost entering to leave.

d
Google
Written September 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adam C
Poznan, Poland906 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
The Mouth of Truth, a sculpture located in the vestibule of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Legend has it that it devours the hand of liars. Of course, the effect is spoiled by the constant queue of tourists just to take a photo with their hand inside.
Google
Written September 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Bocca della Verita - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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