Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin — Attraction in Rome

The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin is a minor basilica church in Rome, Italy. It is located in the rione of Ripa.

According to Byzantine historian Andrew Ekonomou, the church was founded in the 6th century during the Byzantine rule of the city and was placed in the centre of the Greek community in Rome. The Greek part of the city was referred to as the 'Schola Graeca'. The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who was greatly adored as Theotokos (Mother of God) in contemporary Constantinople. The name 'Cosmedin' came from the Latinization of the Greek word κοσμίδιον (cosmidion) that derives from the Greek word κόσμος, which means pure or elegant.

The church was built in the 8th century, during the Byzantine Papacy, over the remains of the Templum Herculis Pompeiani in the Forum Boarium and of the Statio annonae, one of the food distribution centres of ancient Rome (another is to be found at the Theatre of Balbus). A deaconry was a place where charitable distributions were given to the poor, and it is appropriate that such an institution would have been built near or at a station of the Roman annona.

An eighth century inscription in the church records that Eustathius, the last Byzantine duke of Rome (ca. 752-756) gave a gift of extensive properties to the church's ministry to the poor. The same inscription also mentions a donation by someone named Georgios and his brother David

Since it was located near many Byzantine structures,[according to whom?] in 7th century this church was called de Schola Graeca, and a close street is still called della Greca. Greek monks escaping iconoclastic persecutions decorated the church around 782, when pope Adrian I promoted its reconstruction; the church was built with a nave and two aisles and a portico. Because of its beauty, the church received the adjective cosmedin (from Greek kosmidion), ornate. A sacristy and an oratory dedicated to St. Nicholas were added in the 9th century, by order of Pope Nicholas I, who also built a papal residence, but they were destroyed in the Sack of Rome (1084) by Robert Guiscard's Norman troops.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin was the titular church of Popes Gelasius II and Celestine III, as well as antipope Benedict XIII. Among the former titular cardinal deacons of the church was Reginald Pole, the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury.

The inscriptions found in S. Maria in Cosmedin, a valuable source illustrating the history of the Basilica, have been collected and published by Vincenzo Forcella.

A substantial restoration was accomplished in 1118–1124 under Alfanus, camerarius of Pope Callixtus II. After being acquired by Benedictines and a period of decay, in 1718 the church was refurbished in the Baroque style, particularly by a new façade, by Giuseppe Sardi.[4] The Baroque additions, however, were removed in the restoration of 1894–1899, together with the coat-of-arms of Pope Clement XI who had sponsored Sardi's work.

Next to the Mouth of Truth and the exit takes you through the church. Another tick box for any Rome visit or Roman Holiday fan. You will just love the art and architecture of...

Best known for the "Mouth of Truth" in its porch, Santa Maria in Cosmedin is one of the most interesting churches in Rome, with important medieval art, an unusual crypt, and an atmosphere of antiquity.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin stands on the site of an ancient Roman temple to Hercules Invictus, which was last rebuilt in the 2nd century BC. In the 4th century AD, a portico (loggia) was built against the northwest side to house the Statio Annonae, the Roman market inspectors' office.

Restored to its early medieval appearance, the attractive facade has a porch with seven open arches and seven windows. Rising to the right is a tall, slender Romanesque belltower added in the 12th century.

Traces of the earlier buildings can be glimpsed on the exterior. On the northwestern (left as you face the church) part of the north wall, there are remains of the columns and arcades of the 4th-century loggia facade as well as the early 7th-century blocking walls that formed the diaconia. In both the aisle walls there are ten round-headed windows (five on each side) from the 8th-century church and large tufa blocks reused from the Roman temple. The 8th-century clerestory, with six windows on each side, is also visible.

In the porch, the greatest attraction is the Bocca della Verità, "Mouth of Truth." The large marble mask is an ancient Roman artifact that was either a drain cover or part of a fountain. It was placed here in the porch in 1632. Its name and popularity derive from a medieval legend that if a liar placed his hand in its mouth, it would be bitten off. The legend was charmingly tested by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the film Roman Holiday, only adding to its popularity. Today visitors line up in the porch for their turn to be photographed with their...

Santa Maria in Cosmedin is a must-visit for history lovers and those intrigued by ancient legends. This small but stunning medieval church, located near the Tiber River, is most famous for the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth)—a large, round stone face that, according to legend, bites the hand of liars! It’s a fun tradition to place your hand inside and test your honesty, making for a great photo opportunity.

Beyond this famous attraction, the church itself is a hidden gem. Originally built in the 8th century over the remains of an ancient Roman temple, it showcases beautiful medieval architecture, a stunning mosaic floor, and a richly decorated Byzantine-style interior. The bell tower, one of the finest in Rome, dates back to the 12th century. Inside, the relics of Saint Valentine—yes, the very Saint Valentine—are kept in a small side chapel, adding to the church’s historical significance.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin offers a fascinating blend of Roman, medieval, and religious history, all in a peaceful setting away from the crowds. Whether you come for the legend of the Mouth of Truth, the striking architecture, or the hidden relics, it’s well worth a visit. Highly...