Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome Church

Santi Cosma e Damiano is a church built into the Roman Forum area of central Rome, established in the early 6th century. It is sited within and reuses parts of older Roman structures and is celebrated for its early Christian mosaics.

The principal attraction is a large 6th-century apse mosaic portraying Christ and attendant saints, preserved within the church interior. The building also shows extensive reuse of Roman columns and masonry, giving visible links between ancient and early medieval Rome.

The church was founded and converted to Christian use in the early 6th century under papal initiative, employing existing Roman fabric and adapting it for liturgical use. Over subsequent centuries it retained its Christian function while undergoing repairs and conservation.

Santi Cosma e Damiano stands on the south side of the Roman Forum close to the Temple of Romulus and the Arch of Titus, in central Rome’s archaeological core. It is immediately adjacent to the Forum walk and reachable from other central monuments.

• 6th-century mosaic: The church incorporates Roman-era fabric and an important 6th-century apse mosaic, one of the earliest surviving large-scale mosaics in Rome.
• Forum location: Located on the eastern edge of the Roman Forum, it is convenient to visit when touring the Forum and nearby ruins.

Santi Cosma e Damiano sits in the Roman Forum area next to Via dei Fori Imperiali. The easiest public-transit approach is Metro B to Colosseo station - from the Colosseo exit it’s about a 5-10 minute walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali and then into the Forum area to the church. By car it is in central Rome (city centre) on Via dei Fori Imperiali; parking is limited so public transport is recommended.

• Visit early in the morning right when it opens (or late afternoon) as the area around the Roman Forum is far quieter then and you'll get clearer views of the interior without tour groups streaming through.
• Approach the church from the Via dei Fori Imperiali / Roman Forum side so you can combine the visit with the Forum/Palatine route and avoid a longer walk around modern-traffic streets.
• Don't miss the sixth‑century apse mosaic and the Cosmatesque floor - they're easy to overlook when visitors focus only on the church's exterior and the nearby ruins.
• Check the church's service times before you go; it still functions as a parish so parts of the interior can be closed during Mass or special liturgies.