Page 206 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

204  ROME AREA B Y AREA

1 Santa Maria in keystones above the four arches A double row of granite and
Cosmedin you can see small figures of the marble columns (taken from
goddesses Roma, Juno, Ceres, ancient Roman temples)
Piazza della Bocca della Verità 18. and Minerva. In medieval times divides the triple nave. The
Map 8 E1. Tel 06-678 7759. @ 23, 44, the arch formed the base of a austerity of the gray interior
81, 160, 170, 280, 628, 715, 716. tower fortress. It was restored is relieved by golden frescoes
Open 9:30am–6pm daily (in winter: to to its original shape in 1827. in the apse (attributed to
5pm. Gates close 10 min before Pietro Cavallini, 1295). The
closing). 5 7 =
facade and the bell tower
This beautiful unadorned date from the 12th century.
church was built in the 6th
century on the site of the
ancient city’s food market. 4 San Teodoro
The elegant Romanesque
bell tower and portico were Via di San Teodoro 7. Map 8 E1.
added during the 12th century. Tel 06-678 6624. @ 23, 44, 81,
160, 170, 280, 628, 715, 716.
In the 19th century a Baroque Open 9:30am–12:30pm Sun–Fri.
facade was removed and the
church restored to its original This small, round 6th-century
simplicity. It contains many San Giorgio in Velabro after its church at the foot of the
fine examples of Cosmati restoration in 1999 Palatine features breathtaking
work, in particular the mosaic 6th-century mosaics in the apse,
floor, the raised choir, the 3 San Giorgio in and a Florentine cupola dating
bishop’s throne, and the Velabro from 1454. The fetching outer
canopy over the main altar. courtyard was designed by
Set into the wall of the Via del Velabro 19. Map 8 E1. Tel Carlo Fontana in 1705. Greek
portico is the Bocca della Verità 06-6979 7536. @ 23, 44, 81, 160, 170, Orthodox services are held
(Mouth of Truth). This may have 280, 628, 715, 716, 780. Open 10am– here on Sunday mornings.
been a drain cover, dating back 12:30pm & 4–6:30pm Tue, Fri, & Sat.
to before the 4th century BC.
Medieval tradition had it that In the hollow of the street 5 Santa Maria della
the formidable jaws would named after the Velabrum, the Consolazione
snap shut over the hand of swamp where Romulus and
those who told lies – a useful Remus are said to have been Piazza della Consolazione 94.
Map 5 A5, 12 F5. Tel 06-678 4654.
trick for testing the faithfulness found by the she-wolf, is a @ 23, 44, 63, 81, 160, 170, 280, 628,
of spouses. small church dedicated to 715, 716, 780. Open 6:30am–6:30pm
St. George, whose bones lie Mon–Sat; 10am–6:30pm Sun. 5 7
under the altar.
The 7th-century basilica The church stands near the
has suffered over time from foot of the Tarpeian Rock, the
periodic floods, and in 1993 a site of public execution of
bomb damaged the front of traitors since the time of
the church. Careful restoration the Sabine War (see p76).
has, however, returned it In 1385, Giordanello degli
to its original appearance. Alberini, a condemned

Bocca della Verità at Santa Maria
in Cosmedin

2 Arch of Janus
Via del Velabro. Map 8 E1. @ 23, 44,
63, 81, 160, 170, 280, 628, 715, 716, 780.
Probably dating from the reign
of Constantine, this imposing
four-faced marble arch stood at
the crossroads on the edge of
the Forum Boarium, near the
ancient docks. Merchants did
business in its shade. On the The Arch of Janus, where cattle dealers sheltered from the midday sun

US_204-205_EW_Rome_US.indd 204 15/03/17 4:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm