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Top 50 Best Things to Do in Rome [2025]

Colosseum
Colosseum
Colosseum
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Colosseum

Colosseum

4.6
/5
4048 reviews
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10
From €18.00
Based on 150,929 reviews
Colosseo | 1.4 km from downtown
Phone +390639967700
Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
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Achieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
Highlights:
Magnificent four-story, 80-arch, 240-pillar building
󱨜Experience the epic battles of the Colosseum
󱨠Saved by 3008 users󱨠2096 positive reviews
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I only used my Colosseum ticket, and the reservation confirmation was quick and convenient. It was hassle-free. Please arrive 15 minutes early for entry; do not be late, otherwise your ticket will be considered expired and invalid.
We chose the afternoon session, and the sun was just right, making it a great place for photos. Our guide, Liu, was professional and well-organized, even telling us where to get free water. 😂 He also took a group photo for us, which was very thoughtful. The whole trip was a pleasure!
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Pantheon
Pantheon
Pantheon
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Pantheon

Pantheon

4.6
/5
1352 reviews
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10
From €6.50
Based on 80,390 reviews
Pantheon | 1.7 km from downtown
Phone +390668300230
Address: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
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Highlights:
󱨜Admire the design Michelangelo acclaimed
Giant dome's sky eye showers natural light and shadows
󱨠Saved by 1583 users󱨠648 positive reviews
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The Pantheon in Rome, steeped in history, is one of Rome's landmarks. The surrounding area offers numerous photo opportunities, making it a must-see for tourists. The Pantheon in Rome, steeped in history, is one of Rome's landmarks. The surrounding area offers numerous photo opportunities, making it a must-see for tourists. The Pantheon in Rome, steeped in history, is one of Rome's landmarks. The surrounding area offers numerous photo opportunities, making it a must-see for tourists.
Everyone has to visit the Pantheon in their lifetime. I am in shock that something so magnificent could be built in 126 AD and remain is such remarkable condition. The exterior is incredibly imposing with grand columns holding up the structure. The interior consists of a single perfectly symmetrical circular space with an enormous dome. There are beautiful columns, sculptures, and paintings everywhere. It was originally a Pagan temple and symbol of Rome’s power, but became a church that is in use to this day. There is a huge high alter near the front, built in the early 18th century. All the pagan statues and artwork were removed and replaced with ones honoring to Christianity. Everything in this building is perfectly symmetrical with three sets of columns on each side flanked with artwork in the middle. Every bit of architecture from the floor to the ceiling is so intricate. The marble floor is from three different countries. The red is from Egypt, the white is from Asia Minor.
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Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
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Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo

4.6
/5
505 reviews
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9.1
From €15.00
Based on 14,747 reviews
Rome City Centre | 2.5 km from downtown
Phone +39066819111
Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
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Achieved a 2-year streak on the annual lists
Highlights:
󰋄Witness Rome's evolving fortress
Panoramic Rome & Vatican views
󱨠Saved by 939 users󱨠256 positive reviews
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As soon as I approached the scenic spot, I was attracted by the angel sculptures on both sides of the bridge. When entering Castel Sant'Angelo, you must go to the top to have a look, where you can overlook many ancient monuments on the other side of the river, including a corner of the Colosseum. In addition, the sandwiches at the Central Cafe are good and cheap, but you have to sit there to eat. If the sun is strong, it will be too hot and there is basically no shade.
## Amber of Time and Space: The Prismatic Light of Castel Sant'Angelo When the waves of the Tiber River lift up the round fortress with a bronze angel on its head, you have stepped into the most bizarre time capsule in Rome - here are the remains of emperors, the sighs of prisoners, the power of the pope and the madness of artists. Don't be fooled by the fairy-tale appearance, every tuff of the castle is soaked with the blood of historical paradoxes. **Whisper of the Dead in the Secret Passage** (Must-see!) Enter the underground palace of the original site of Hadrian's Mausoleum, and the mobile phone flashlight illuminates the brick vault in 139 AD. Suddenly touched the wall: a six-pointed star is stacked next to the cross, and there is a line below "1527.5.6" - when the Medici Pope was besieged, the Jewish doctor prayed at this moment. When the cold wind blows over the back of the neck, the smell of wax and rotten wood floats in the darkness, which is the residual fragrance of the refugees burning furniture for warmth. Climb to the top floor and look back from the pedestal of the angel statue. The secret passage is like a giant snake drilling into the Vatican wall. The footsteps of Clement VII who fled along this bloody road are still echoing on the stone wall. **The light and shadow epic of the spiral ramp** (shocking details) Spinning up the slope where the coffin was transported in ancient times, a small window suddenly cracked in the stone wall: at 12 noon, the sun pierced in like a golden spear, casting a complete triumphal arch of light on the wall! Looking closely at the edge of the light spot, the dents made by the iron chains of medieval prisoners are embedded with a few glass beads from the Renaissance (left over by nobles visiting the prison). Walking to the ruins of the crossbow platform, the window frame cleverly frames the dome of St. Peter's Basilica - Bernini's design scheme is revealed here: Castel Sant'Angelo is the shield of the Vatican, and it is also the visual coordinate axis of the game of power. **The torture ballet of the Angel Bridge** (beautiful moment) Run to the bank of the Tiber River after sunset. Twelve armed angels carved by Bernini's apprentices gradually light up in the twilight: when the eyes of the fifth angel "holding a crown of thorns" reflect the first star, the whole bridge suddenly turns into a mobile theater. Take a closer look at the gesture of Angel II holding a spear: the shadow of the spear tip just points to the ventilation hole of the castle dungeon - a dramatic freeze frame of the prison escapee being betrayed by the moonlight one night in 1574. **Prisoner's Poem on the Terrace Star Map** (Soul Crit) Stay overnight at the top terrace cafe, and look up at the bronze angel after the tourists have dispersed: the tip of its sword always points to the direction of the comet. Using the mobile phone star map APP to compare, it is discovered that the angle of the angel's wings is locked to the position of Saturn on May 6, 1527 - the day the city was broken! Even more terrifying is the arrow hole array on the south wall: the moonlight passes through the holes and projects the cipher score of Dante's "Divine Comedy" on the ground (a secret creation of modern monks). Sit on the east wing turret at midnight and watch the last tram pass the Holy Spirit Bridge. The moment the carriage lights swept across the castle's outer wall, the bullet-riddled wall suddenly appeared - the bullet holes where the Nazis shot guerrillas here in 1944 were repaired by vines into green crosses. At this time, I drank the remaining wine in the glass, and the sound of the imperial death knell and the harp of the Renaissance were intertwined in the wind. The most fatal charm of Castel Sant'Angelo is that it makes you stand at the critical point of blood and beauty: when the first swift swoops down in the morning light to peck at the dew on the tip of the bronze angel's sword, you will understand - Rome's immortality is precisely because it always walks a tightrope between ruins and rebirth
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No.

5

Roman Forum
Roman Forum
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Roman Forum

Roman Forum

4.7
/5
633 reviews
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8.8
From €18.00
Based on 25,388 reviews
Colosseo | 1.4 km from downtown
Phone +390621115843
Address: 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
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Featured in 2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do
Highlights:
󰋄Ancient Roman city center ruins
360° view of Rome's center
󱨠Saved by 775 users󱨠282 positive reviews
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Roman Forum and the Colosseum are amazing historical places everyone should see. The tickets, adult + child x2 full experience are the best for the value we have paid.
The Roman Forum is a vivid reminder of ancient Rome’s greatness. Though much of it is in ruins, what remains is enough to spark imagination about its past glory. Walking through the lively, bright city, I realize the forums aren’t confined to one spot—they’re spread throughout, giving me a sense of how vast and advanced Rome once was. It’s an experience that blends history and atmosphere bringing the ancient world to life. I really love it here~
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No.

6

Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain
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Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain

4.6
/5
1223 reviews
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8.0
Based on 3,025 reviews
Trevi Fountain Surrounding | 1.1 km from downtown
Phone +39060608
Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 15–30 minutes
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Highlights:
󰀆Toss coin & revisit Rome
󱓊Neptune statue & fountain theme
󱨠Saved by 1126 users󱨠434 positive reviews
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The fountain at the Spanish Steps in Rome is called the "Fountain of the Broken Ship". It is one of the famous Baroque fountains in Rome and is located in the center of the Spanish Square. The main body of the fountain is a broken ship half submerged in water, with water overflowing from all sides of the ship, symbolizing the scene after the flood recedes. This unique design not only solves the problem of insufficient water pressure in the low-lying areas of the square, but also gives the fountain a very high artistic value. The meaning of the Broken Ship Fountain is "the ship of heaven", symbolizing the persistence of faith in disasters.
One of the most beautiful and breathtaking little building in Roma. Even if there is a lot of people at the surrounding area, you can always enjoy the view. Would recommend to go very early in the morning or late at night.
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No.

7

Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
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Palatine Hill

Palatine Hill

4.6
/5
229 reviews
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7.5
From €18.00
Colosseo | 1.7 km from downtown
Phone +39639967700
Address: Parco archeologico del Colosseo, Via di S. Gregorio, 30, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
󱓊Romans' favorite picnic spot
󱨜Legendary birthplace of Rome
󱨠Saved by 313 users󱨠33% positive reviews
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This hill in the Roman city holds many ancient Roman ruins. It was once home to temples. This hill in the Roman city holds many ancient Roman ruins. It was once home to temples. This hill in the Roman city holds many ancient Roman ruins. It was once home to temples.
## Hill of the Gods: The Power Rings of Palatine Hill When you climb the ridge on the gravel of the Imperial Avenue, you suddenly fall into the creation myth of Rome - Palatine Hill. There is no bloody glory of the Colosseum, no perfect dome of the Pantheon, only the half-buried palace ruins in the wild flowers whispering in the wind. But please believe that every inch of soil in this hill, which is no more than 60 meters high, is soaked with the genes of Western power. **The space-time wormhole of Romulus's hut**. Next to the ruins of the Augustus Palace, a small circle surrounded by several charred wooden stakes is actually the legendary place where the mother wolf feeds her baby! Crouching down to touch the cracks of the carbonized oak, the fingertips feel incredible heat - not the sun's scorching, but the residual heat of the bonfire 2,800 years ago. When wild poppies sway on the rammed earth ground, you will see the figures of shepherds Romulus and Remus swaying in the heat wave: it turns out that the starting point of the empire is just a few charred fences. **The secret language of mosaics in Villa Livia**. Entering the semi-underground residence of the queen, you will be caught off guard by the spring scenery in the room: turtledoves carrying figs fly over the branches of yellow fragrant plums, and pomegranates burst on the walls inlaid with colored stones. The peacock squatting in the corner has a lively look, and the grape vines under its claws extend to the real ground, entangled and coexisting with the weeds outside the wall - the ancient Roman craftsmen used 40,000 colored stones to solidify the luxurious feast at the peak of power into an eternal hymn to life. **The Cliff Theater of Domitian's Palace**. Standing on the edge of the ruins of the most luxurious palace in the empire, there are tourists like ants in the Colosseum under your feet. In the past, tyrants set up cantilevered stands here and used pure silver railings to isolate the world. Today, the marble fence has long been weathered, but you can still experience the dizzy pleasure of power: when the dusk dyes the Colosseum into golden and red ruins, the mountain wind brings the faint roar of lions and the roar of chariots, and the whole city of Rome turns into a bloody sand table under your feet. At this moment, I suddenly realized that all empires will eventually return to dust, only the mountain wind is eternal. Please bring a wild olive leaf before going down the mountain. Passing through the remains of the Flavian Palace arch in the sunset, the moonlight is pinning the shadow of the Doric colonnade on the stone wall of the Faun Cave. Augustus's ghostly purple robe brushes across your arm, and a few green peacocks suddenly pass over the broken walls of Tiberius's palace, and their long tails sweep down dewdrops like tears of the collapse of the empire. The most deadly magic of the Palatine Hill is that it makes you a creator and a gravedigger at the same time - when the mountain wind fills your clothes, you can hear more than just the sighs of Caesars, but also the echo of the eternal throbbing of power rushing in your own blood.
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No.

8

Arch of Constantine
Arch of Constantine
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Arch of Constantine

Arch of Constantine

4.4
/5
494 reviews
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7.4
Based on 1,767 reviews
Colosseo | 1.5 km from downtown
Phone +390621115843
Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 20–30 minutes
Highlights:
󰀆Colosseum ruins & captivating views
󱨜One of three remaining arches
󱨠Saved by 413 users󱨠115 positive reviews
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## Skeletons of Victory: The Millennium Paradox of the Arch of Constantine When the giant shadow of the Colosseum expands behind you, you suddenly encounter this arch blackened by time - it is like a bronze medal inlaid on the artery of the empire, and the three arches swallow and spit out the storms of twenty centuries. Don't be deceived by the mottled appearance: this ancestor of the Western triumphal arch is actually a shocking artistic plagiarism, and each relief is revealing the absurd nature of the game of power. **The Rubik's Cube of Power Made of Reliefs**. Get close to the north column and take a closer look: the top layer is a bear hunting picture from the Hadrian era, the middle layer plagiarizes the war scene of Trajan Forum, and the bottom layer actually appropriates the relief of Marcus Aurelius's captive offering! The carving styles of different dynasties coexist strangely on the door frame - Constantine's craftsmen dismantled the glory of the previous dynasty and collaged it into the coronation robe of the new emperor. As the setting sun dyed the profiles of the soldiers of Trajan's legion golden red, they were stabbing the wild deer of Hadrian's era with spears in their hands, and the absurdity ran through their spines like an electric current: the so-called eternal victory was nothing but a carefully choreographed Inception. **The toes of the angels hung in the cracks of history**. Looking up at the broken monument of the pavilion, four stone statues of Dacian captives were chained and kneeling for a thousand years. Among them, a stubborn fig tree emerged from the crack of the left knee of the captive in the southeast corner! At dusk, the homing swifts flew over the empty eye sockets of the stone statues, and the sound of their wings startled the ripe fruits, and the purple-red juice spread on the ground of the doorway like old blood stains. This wild tree born from the bones of the empire is like the most pungent metaphor: the monument of the conqueror will eventually become the seedbed of life. **The triumphal procession of ghosts under the moonlight**. At midnight, I avoided the crowds and sat alone on the steps of the Arc de Triomphe. When the lights of the Colosseum went out, a miracle happened: the marks on the arch suddenly turned into dragons of torches, and the sound of elephants and chains floated in the wind. The Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, which determined the fate of Christianity, was reproduced here - you can see Constantine's army rushing through the doorway with the La Brand Banner, but the reflection strangely turned into a cross shape. At this time, touching the inner wall of the doorway, the folds of the goddess of victory polished by pilgrims, I don't know when half a modern copper coin was embedded, and the ancient Roman silver dinar coin looked at each other faintly in the moonlight. Before leaving, please look for the mysterious graffiti on the west side of the arch: "omnia vanitas" (everything is empty) engraved by a medieval monk. When the morning light first appeared, this line of small words was as glaring as a dagger next to Constantine's gilded inscription. The most shocking revelation of the Arc de Triomphe lies in the holes beneath its shiny surface - the stolen reliefs, the wild trees in the cracks, the hoofbeats of ghosts, all mock the eternal vanity. And when a new day comes, when a flock of pigeons suddenly soars from the top of the pavilion like a captive on your shoulder, you finally understand from the sound of their wings: all triumphs are temporary, and only time is the ultimate conqueror.
The Arch of Constantine, an ancient building standing in the city of Rome, is like a historical giant that has experienced vicissitudes of life, quietly telling the glory of the past. When I approached it slowly as a tourist, it seemed as if I had traveled through time and space and stepped into a legendary era of war. From a distance, the Arch of Constantine is tall and solemn. Its magnificent outline casts a huge and deep shadow under the reflection of the sun, adding a solemn atmosphere to this land. Many tourists, like me, stood not far away and were deeply attracted by its majestic momentum. They stopped and looked up at this building that carries a thousand years of history, with their eyes full of awe and curiosity about history. Approaching the Arch of Triumph, you can clearly see its exquisite stone carvings. Every stone seems to be given life, vividly showing the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Rome. The reliefs on the arch are delicate and vivid, depicting the heroic scenes of war and the heroic postures of heroes. They waved their swords and charged forward, their majestic momentum made people's blood boil. A tourist from France couldn't help but sigh: "These carvings are amazing! It seems that every knife can feel the passion and fighting spirit of the soldiers back then. The fearless spirit they showed in the battle is shocking." And those scenes depicting victory and peace are filled with peace and joy, as if showing the glory and honor of the ancient Roman Empire to the world. A British couple with a child smiled and said to the child: "Baby, look at these paintings. There was once a powerful empire that created such a great achievement. We should learn from their bravery and wisdom." The child also looked at it curiously, with a yearning for history in his eyes. Walking slowly along the Arc de Triomphe, the stone slabs under my feet carry countless footprints. Perhaps there were triumphant generals and mighty soldiers who walked here. They cheered and saluted people with a victorious smile. And now, I also follow their footsteps and feel the historical weight of this building. The surrounding walls are also covered with exquisite carvings. An Italian local resident said with emotion: "I grew up near here since I was a child. The Arch of Constantine is like an old friend to me. Every time I see it, I feel extremely proud that our country has such a great cause." Tourists were also infected by his emotions and immersed in this ancient and great atmosphere. Standing in the center of the Arch of Constantine, looking up, the sky and the arch form a beautiful picture. The sun shines through the arch, casting mottled light and shadow, as if telling the story of the years. An American tourist immersed in this wonderful atmosphere said: "Here, time seems to be still, I feel the pulse of history, and the awe of civilization arises in my heart." At this moment, many tourists, like me, with awe of history, quietly feel the unique charm of this building. As the sun gradually sets, the afterglow dyes the Arch of Constantine into a golden color. It looks more mysterious and charming in this warm evening breeze.
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No.

9

National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo
National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo
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National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo

National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo

4.3
/5
93 reviews
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7.2
Based on 2,455 reviews
Termini Central Station | 232m from downtown
Phone +3906480201
Address: Largo di Villa Peretti, 2, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–1.1 hours
Highlights:
󱨜Walk to Colosseum & Pantheon
󱓊Ancient Roman sculptures exhibition
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There are four floors in total, but the underground floor is not open. The first and second floors are all sculptures, and the third floor is murals and mosaics. Overall, it is worthy of the name of the National Museum. It should be regarded as a branch built using the original excavation site.
This is a very important local museum in Italy. It has a huge flow of visitors. The museum environment is very good. You can see many exquisite artworks of Italian history and feel the strong regional characteristics here.
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No.

10

Mouth of Truth
Mouth of Truth
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Mouth of Truth

Mouth of Truth

4.4
/5
368 reviews
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7.1
Based on 1,926 reviews
Colosseo | 2 km from downtown
Phone +39066787759
Address: Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5–1 hour
Highlights:
󰀆Photo op with the Mouth
󱨜Triton face on Roman manhole
󱨠Saved by 534 users󱨠Recently viewed by 1,000+ people
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## Mirror of Lies: Soul-Eating Ceremony of the Mouth of Truth When you squeeze through the noisy crowd of the Cosmedin Church, you suddenly bump into the iron-blue stone face in the niche - the mask of the river god with slightly open fangs is covered with moss, and the eye sockets are covered with centuries of dust. This ancient Roman sewer manhole cover was transformed into a lie-eating beast because of "Roman Holiday". Don't be deceived by the laughter of tourists: the moment you put your hand into its mouth, you will fall into a soul trial spanning a thousand years. **Roman humor under the myth of lie detection**. Please look closely at the stone surface when queuing: the craftsmen in the first century AD deliberately carved the sea god into a horrified expression, originally to deter floods. One night in the Middle Ages, a drunkard stuck his hand between the fangs and cried and confessed his guilt, and an absurd legend was born. Today, husbands pretend to be bitten and scream, and wives hold their mobile phones and laugh and bend over - when the jungle of selfie sticks submerges the stone statue, the Mouth of Truth has long become a stage prop for contemporary people to create sweet lies. **The hidden line of truth between the stone pillars of the church**. Don't ignore the church behind because of the crowd! On the sixth-century mosaic altar, Christ is crushing the head of a snake (the incarnation of truth). Look up at the dome: St. Peter is the only one missing among the twelve apostles - it is said that the devil stole his statue during construction, but it fell into the Tiber River due to the burns of the church's holy light. When your fingertips brush over the cracks in the north wall (the signature of the 1348 earthquake), you suddenly see the afterimage of the saint in the red light of the stained glass window: it turns out that truth never lives in the fangs of stone statues, but flows in the scars of time that have crushed the building. **The Liar's Monologue in the Moonlight**. After closing, go around to the small garden on the east side of the church, and the Mouth of Truth turns back into a gloomy monster behind the fence. Put your palms against the iron bars and look at the stone statue, and the roar of the ancient Roman aqueduct floats in the wind. One night in the third century AD, pagans carved anti-Christian slogans on this stone, and the priests used holy water to wash the fangs that appeared. At this moment, the cool air seeps out of the cracks in the stone and wraps around my wrist, as if two thousand years of lies and confessions have condensed into salt here - what we fear is never the bite of the stone, but the piercing of the shadow in our hearts. Please take out the coins and put them in the donation box before leaving. When the crisp sound of metal hitting the bottom of the box echoes through the empty courtyard, it is like the trembling sound of the soul's balance returning to zero. As the candlelight flickers in the altar, you suddenly realize: the most terrifying thing about this stone statue is not the fangs but the hollow throat - there are countless untold truths deposited there, like the silent ancient pottery fragments at the bottom of the Tiber River. And the 14th-century crucifix forgotten by tourists in the corner of the church, wild violets are blooming between the ribs of the wooden sculpture of Christ, mocking the human obsessive pursuit of "absolute truth" with gentle vitality.
Italy Rome The Mouth of Truth Bocca della Verità, the Originator of the Lie Detector Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 00186 Roma RM, Italy In 1485, this sculpture was first named "Mouth of Truth"; since then, one of Rome's most meaningful symbols has been preserved. The Mouth of Truth is a marble sculpture resembling a human face, located in the porch of Santa Maria delle Greco in Rome, Italy. There are many different opinions about the human face carved on the Mouth of Truth. Some say that he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, while others say that he depicts a pagan god. According to research, it was actually a fountain or a manhole cover in ancient Rome. However, the most famous feature of the Mouth of Truth is that it is used as a lie detector. Since the Middle Ages, people believed that if someone lied, his hand would be bitten if he put it into the mouth. The sculpture has a diameter of 5 feet 9 inches and weighs about 2,850 pounds. It represents the face of a bearded man, with holes for eyes, nose and mouth. Its original function is still unclear: was it a fountain? A drainpipe? Or even a manhole cover? This large mask is famous for its legend and long history. In the Middle Ages, this mouth was believed to have the ability of clairvoyance. In the 17th century, it was placed on the porch of the Church of Our Lady of Grecian. Since the church houses the skull of Saint Valentine, the Mouth of Truth also has a meaning related to love. In the movie "Roman Holiday", the male protagonist pretended to put his hand into the Mouth of Truth and was bitten off, which frightened the female protagonist Audrey Hepburn. The Mouth of Truth became famous for this classic plot, and every tourist who came to Rome must make a pilgrimage here. Tourists who come here to visit put their hands into the mouth to try whether their hands will be bitten. Because thousands of hands have been stretched in and out of the Mouth of Truth, this big mouth has been polished by people's fingers. The Mouth of Truth is an ancient manhole cover, located at the door of a dilapidated chapel. It opens at 09:30 every morning. You can just walk in when it opens, no tickets are required. You can also take a look at the chapel. On the left side of the entrance, there is a person at the door of the altar basement, persuading people to donate money. It feels like you can only enter the basement after donating money. Don't donate too much, or don't donate at all, just give a few cents or dimes, because there is nothing in there, and it takes less than a minute to get out. It's best to go early in the morning, especially in the summer tourist season, when the queue is at least half an hour.
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