People line up outside this ancient church with a Romanesque bell tower not for great art treasures, but to see the “Mouth of Truth,” a large disk on the wall of the portico. As Gregory Peck demonstrated to Audrey Hepburn in the film Roman Holiday, the mouth is supposed to chomp down on the hands of liars. It may have been an ancient drain cover, though one hypothesis says it was a so-called “talking statue,” where anonymous notes were left to betray wrongdoers. Our take? Save this hokey photo op until you’ve seen everything else you want to see in Rome.
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Rome› Attraction
Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Piazza della Bocca della Verità 18 , Rome
Our Rating
Hours
Daily 9:30am–5:50pm (closes 4:50pm in winter)
Transportation

Bus: 23, 81, 118, 160, 280, 715
Phone 06-6787759 Prices FreeMap
Piazza della Bocca della Verità 18 Rome RomeNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.