House of the Vestals Archaeological Site

Address: House of the Vestals (Roman Forum), Via della Salara Vecchia / Roman Forum area, Rome, Italy

Website: https://www.coopculture.it

Hours: See Colosseum/Forum/Palatine opening times (varies seasonally)

Admission: Included with Colosseum / Roman Forum / Palatine combined ticket (adult approx €16; check official site for current price)

The House of the Vestals is the archaeological remains of the residence used by the Vestal Virgins in ancient Rome, located in the Roman Forum near the Temple of Vesta. It formed part of the religious heart of the city and is one of the most prominent domestic complexes surviving in the Forum.

The site presents exposed foundations, partial walls and room layouts interpreted as living and ritual spaces associated with the Vestal order. Visitors view the remains from the Forum walkways and nearby raised platforms; there is no modern reconstructed interior available to enter.

The house was used by the Vestal Virgins, priestesses charged with maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta and performing important state rites. The Vestal institution dates from the early Roman kingdom and continued through the Republic and the Imperial period until the late fourth century AD when the cult was suppressed.

Located in central Rome within the Roman Forum, the House of the Vestals sits immediately adjacent to the circular Temple of Vesta and at the foot of the Palatine Hill. It is within walking distance of the Colosseum and accessible from central Rome by foot or public transport.

• Visiting note: Access is via the Roman Forum archaeological site; the site is best seen early in the day when the Forum is less crowded.
• What to expect: Remains include an atrium and several interior rooms rather than a fully intact building, so much of interpretation relies on signage and museum displays.

What to See#

• House ruins: Ruins include a central courtyard and adjacent rooms interpreted as living quarters and service spaces for the Vestal priestesses; visible foundations and restored walls can be seen on the Roman Forum walkways.
• Temple of Vesta: A small circular shrine immediately adjacent is associated with the cult of Vesta and sits close to the house remains within the Forum complex.

The House of the Vestals is inside the Roman Forum, accessible on foot from the Colosseo metro station (Metro Line B). From Colosseo station it is a 5-10 minute walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali and into the Forum area via the Via Sacra.

From Roma Termini station the Forum/Colosseum area is about a 15-20 minute walk or a one‑stop metro ride on Line B to Colosseo. Note that the Forum is a pedestrian archaeological area once you reach Via dei Fori Imperiali.

• Buy a combined Colosseum-Roman Forum-Palatine timed ticket online and enter the Forum early in the day (right after Colosseum opening) to see the House of the Vestals before large guided groups arrive.
• Approach the House of the Vestals from the Via Sacra/elevated Forum walkway - this viewpoint gives the best sense of the small courtyard layout and surviving hearth area that are easy to miss from street level.
• Take a little extra time to read the on-site interpretive panels and use an audio guide or guidebook; many visitors glance past the House of the Vestals without noting its domestic features and ritual associations within the Forum.