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La Bocca della Verità, (the mouth of truth)

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The Mouth of Truth

The Mouth of Truth

Don Edgar

This strange river god used to be a drain cover, but since the middle ages this frightening image served as a lie detector. It was believed that if you told a lie with your hand in the mouth of this god, it would be bitten of. Of course it had to be helped sometimes by a servant with a blade. The “Bocca” was placed in the front yard of the Sta. Maria in Cosmedin church in the 17th century.

The sculpture is thought to be part of a roman fountain or perhaps a "manhole" cover.

Take bus 170 to Via del Teatro di Marcello (or any bus to Piazza Venezia).

In the movie Roman Holiday both Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck are seen at this site explaining the legend and placing their hands in the portal.

type:Hotspots
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address:Piazza Bocca della Verità
openings:9:30am - 6pm daily.

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