Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Santa Maria in Cosmedin is a medieval church in Rome best known for housing the marble mask called the Bocca della Verità. The church retains a Romanesque bell tower and a portico that fronts the adjacent public space.

The Bocca della Verità, set into the church’s portico, is a large carved marble mask that has become an iconic photo stop for visitors. Inside the church visitors will also find medieval architecture and the Romanesque bell tower, with the building set near the ancient Forum Boarium.

The church was constructed on a site used in late antiquity and acquired its present medieval Romanesque form during the early Middle Ages. The Bocca della Verità is a much later medieval curiosity that became associated with local legends and popular culture.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin sits in Rome’s rione Ripa near the Tiber’s bend and the ancient cattle market area, within walking distance of the Capitoline and Forum Boarium areas.

• Visiting note: The portico is the usual access point to view the Bocca della Verità; queues form during peak tourist hours so early morning visits are quieter.

What to See #

• Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth): An ancient marble mask set into the porch that became known as a popular medieval curiosity and tourist subject; visitors queue to place their hand in the mouth for photographs.
• Bell tower and portico: A distinctive medieval bell tower rising beside the church, visible from the surrounding Forum Boarium area and notable for its Romanesque proportions.