Mouth of Truth

The Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Veritá) is an enormous marble mask that is famous worldwide and was said to bite the hand of those who lied.

Mouth of Truth

Mouth of Truth in detail

The huge legendary sculpture has a diameter of 1.75 meters and is dedicated to the God of the Sea, represented by a male bearded face with holes for the eyes, nose and mouth.

According to legend

A husband who mistrusted his wife took her to the Mouth of Truth to test her faithfulness. The woman reacted by pretending to swoon and his lover caught her in his arms. After this, the woman swore before the Mouth of Truth that she had only been in the arms of her husband and of the man that had just caught her.

This is just one of the many legends that exist regarding the famous sculpture that, with the passing of time, continues to generate enormous anticipation.

Where is the Mouth of Truth?

The sculpture was once located in the Piazza della Bocca della Veritá until in 1632 it was transferred to the outside of one of the walls of the nearby Santa María in Cosmedin, the place where it remains today.

It is very common to see large numbers of people lining up to be photographed with their hand inside the Mouth of Truth.

Location

Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.

Transport

Metro: Circo Massimo, line B (blue).

Map

Closest attractions

Santa María in Cosmedin (0.01 miles)
Forum Boarium (0.07 miles)
Circus Maximus (0.24 miles)
Palatine Hill (0.31 miles)
Roman Forum (0.36 miles)

Hotels nearby

Fortyseven
(0.17 miles)
Kolbe Hotel Rome
(0.17 miles)
Palazzo Al Velabro
(0.11 miles)
Bocca Della Verità Rooms And Suites
(0.03 miles)