Arch of Janus Archaeological Site

Arch of Janus (Arco di Giano) is a Roman quadrifrons arch in Rome, notable for having four faces and four passageways. It dates to the late Roman imperial period.

The arch is primarily appreciated for its unusual four-sided form and surviving masonry, which make it an easily recognisable fragment of late Roman urban fabric. It stands in situ among other ancient monuments, allowing close inspection of construction and reused decorative fragments.

Generally dated to the late Roman imperial era, the monument was erected as a tetrapylon-type arch and served as an architectural marker in the city; its precise dedicatory purpose is not definitively recorded. Over time it has been repaired and partly reused in later periods but retains its core structure.

Located near the Forum Boarium area in Rome, the arch sits close to the Tiber and other ancient sites in the city centre.

• Form: A quadrifrons, or four-faced, arch - rare in Roman architecture - giving it four passageways arranged around a central pier.

The Arch of Janus (Arco di Giano) is in central Rome, in the area of the Roman Forum/Capitoline Hill. The nearest metro is Colosseo on Line B; from Colosseo station it’s about a 10-15 minute walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali and adjacent streets into the forum area where the arch stands.

If driving, the site is within Rome’s centro storico and is best reached by parking outside the ZTL (limited-traffic) zone and walking; many city buses and tourist shuttles also stop at or near the Colosseo/Roman Forum area.