Sant'Omobono Area Archaeological Site

Address: Area around Via Petroselli / Via Biberatica, Rome, Italy

Hours: Open during daylight hours; check local archaeological authority schedules

The Sant’Omobono area is an archaeological complex in central Rome, located between the Tiber and the Capitoline Hill near the Forum Boarium. It is notable for remains that document some of the city’s earliest monumental temples.

Excavations have revealed that the area was a sacred and commercial zone in archaic Rome, with temples dedicated in the 6th century BCE and subsequent Roman remodeling. Over centuries the site was repurposed, buried, and built over, with modern archaeology exposing the ancient structural footprints beneath later buildings.

The area sits on the east side of the Tiber close to the center of Rome, adjacent to the Forum Boarium and within sight of the Capitoline Hill and the riverfront. It is in the historic core and is accessible on foot from other major Roman sites.

• Setting: Located at the edge of the Forum Boarium, the site lies within walking distance of the Roman Forum and other central ancient monuments.
• Visibility: Much of the site is visible from street level and from adjacent pedestrian routes, so it is commonly experienced as part of a broader archaeological walk through central Rome.

What to See#

• Archaic temple remains: Excavated area containing foundations and fragmentary remains of two archaic temples dated to the late 6th century BCE, with earlier occupation levels reaching into the 8th century BCE.
• Church of Sant’Omobono: Small medieval church that gives the area its name, standing adjacent to the excavations and forming part of the urban archaeological ensemble near the Forum Boarium.

The site sits between the Roman Forum and the Tiber River, within walking distance from the Colosseum and Largo di Torre Argentina. Metro: Colosseo (line B) plus a 10-15 minute walk.

• Bring a good pair of shoes - the site is archaeological and uneven underfoot
• Ask the on-site guide about the hole in the stratigraphy where Etruscan, Republican and early Imperial layers meet - it's an archaeologist's favourite detail
• Visit early or late in the day to avoid the Roman Forum's biggest crowds