Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth)

The Bocca della Verita is the most famous lie detector in Rome. What it is is a marble mask with a hole in the mouth, which is supposed to bite the hand of liars. Those who pass the test are allowed to enter the 8th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The entrance was added later while the three columns that hold the nave come from the arches of an old market. Between April and September it is open from 9.00 - 18.00 and from October to March it is open from 9:00 - 17:00. The closest bus stop is "Via dei Cerchi".

The Mouth of Truth is found on a wall at the Basilica of Santa María in Cosmedín. It’s famous to due to the legend which states that the mouth will bite the hands of liars to dare to venture their fingers. Really, it’s use it much more mundane. It’s an ancient Roman manhole covering that emulated the mask of the god Triton.

While nobody visits Rome exclusively to see the Bocca della Verita, who hasn't the typical tourist photo of someone sticking their hand in? It was made famous in the Aubrey Hepburn movie Roman Holiday.

The Bocca della Verità is what really makes the Basilica of Santa María in Cosmedin popular. Under the church’s portico, visitors will find the celebrated mask which represents the god Triton with a gaping mouth. There is a legend that says that any liar who puts his hand near the mouth will be bitten (thus the name). Every day, hundreds of tourists pass by to stick their hands in. The real question is how many will return home with their hands intact?