Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
4.5
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
About
Located on the fringe of the Forum, this small church incorporates the pagan Temple of Romulus and features a magnificent sixth-century mosaic representing the Second Coming.
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Neighbourhood: Centro
How to get there
- Fori Imperiali-Colosseo • 4 min walk
- Colosseo • 4 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
184 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
68
Average
14
Poor
1
Terrible
0
lady_britts
Bexley, UK1,425 contributions
Dec 2019
We literally stumbled across this incredible church on our walk from our hotel to the Colosseum and I'm so grateful that we did as it is absolutely stunning. Dating back to the 4th century and becoming a church is 527AD & contains greatly restored early examples of Christian art, especially in its mosaics. With a pretty courtyard with a fountain and fish, this lovely & serene church and its grounds are worth visiting & absorbing the history and appreciating your surroundings. If only the walls could talk!
Written 11 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alessandro F
Milan, Italy32,423 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
This Basilica with great cloister was born in 527 for the Christianized of the Temple of Romulus built in 309 by Emperor Maxentius, the Temple with its round shape is clearly visible on Roman Forum .
The Pope Felix IV united the Bibliotheca Pacis and the Temple of Romulus to create this Basilica devoted to two Arabian Christian brothers : Cosma and Damiano.
Inside the Basilica with one naves and six lateral chapels is possible to admire apse decorated with beautiful Roman- Byzantine mosaic.
The Pope Felix IV united the Bibliotheca Pacis and the Temple of Romulus to create this Basilica devoted to two Arabian Christian brothers : Cosma and Damiano.
Inside the Basilica with one naves and six lateral chapels is possible to admire apse decorated with beautiful Roman- Byzantine mosaic.
Written 20 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LutheranLadySanDiego
San Diego1,734 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
So glad we checked out one more church in Rome. The courtyard was lovely, and the chancel area was absolutely one of a kind. At first we were disappointed that the mosaic was so dim. But then another visitor put coins into the timer and the lights came up! So beautiful!
Written 8 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChiefGuru
Decatur, IN3,300 contributions
Jun 2019
This brick building was originally built as a temple in the early 4th century. The circular structure is located near an original entrance to the Forum, which is no longer in use. The temple was built (speculation) by Emperor Maxentius (reigned 306 - 312 A.D.) for his son, Valerius Romulus (aka Marcus Aurelius Romulus), who lived 292 - 309 A.D. Thus, the original name: the Temple of Romulus. The Temple of Romulus is the best preserved pagan temple in Rome. This structure is located along the Via Sacra (main street of ancient Rome, leading from Capitoline Hill, through the Forum, to the Colosseum) between the Temple of Antonino & Faustina and the Basilica of Massenzio. Today the Temple of Romulus (the circular front portion in the front) has been absorbed into the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano. The temple was Christianized and dedicated to Sancti Cosma et Damianus in 527 A.D. Theodoric the Great (controlled a Roman empire stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Adriatic Sea) donated the library of the Forum of Peace (Bibliotheca Pacis) and a portion of the Temple of Romulus to Pope Felix IV. The Forum of Peace was the third of the Imperial Fora and is also called the Forum of Vespasian. This would have been behind the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano and partially under the current Via dei For Imperiali. Pope Felix IV combined the two buildings to create a basilica to two Arabian Christian brothers and saints, Cosmas and Damian. At one time, the entrance to the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano was through the Temple of Romulus, however, this entrance is now sealed. The current entrance is on the opposite side off of the Via dei For Imperiali. At that entrance, some oil the original marble paving from the Forum of Peace can be seen. Also, you can see magnificent 6th- and 7th-century mosaics in the church. Definitely another site in the Forum worth seeing.
Written 11 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William C
2 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
This beautiful church from the late 520s occupies a much older formerly pagan temple in the heart of the Forum, right next to the giant Basilica of Maxentius.
It is absolutely stunning, principally because of its gorgeous mosaics, but also because it's hidden in plain sight, and is an especially powerful Christian reuse of an ancient building. The apse mosaic is especially vivid, but the whole experience is really moving.
To enter the church, you need to leave the Forum and walk along the Via dei Fori Imperiali til you get to the street leading into the church. So you will enter through a courtyard behind the church and into the church itself. This may sound circuitous (it is!) but it is well worth it. No one should go to the Forum and miss this church.
It is absolutely stunning, principally because of its gorgeous mosaics, but also because it's hidden in plain sight, and is an especially powerful Christian reuse of an ancient building. The apse mosaic is especially vivid, but the whole experience is really moving.
To enter the church, you need to leave the Forum and walk along the Via dei Fori Imperiali til you get to the street leading into the church. So you will enter through a courtyard behind the church and into the church itself. This may sound circuitous (it is!) but it is well worth it. No one should go to the Forum and miss this church.
Written 26 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China1,74,793 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
This is an interesting basilica located along Via dei Fori Imperiali. It is a titular church that dates back to the 527 AD and is dedicated to St. Cosmas and Damian, two 3rd-century Arabian Christian brothers and doctors.
Historically, the church was created by way of repurposing and uniting the Temple of Romulus (circa 4th century) and the an earlier imperial library building. It contains two entrances, the first directly into the round rotunda of the old Temple of Romulus located within the Imperial Forum grounds while the other is facing Via dei Fori Imperiali. Opening hours are 10am to 1pm & 3pm to 6pm daily.
Entering from Via dei Fori Imperiali, there is a nice portico lined cloister that you walk through before entering the main church. You will find a nave lined with frescos leading to an attractive altar in front of apse masterpiece Byzantine mosaics (circa 6th and 7th century). There are three chapels on both sides of the nave with additional wall frescos and artworks.
All in all, Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano makes for a nice place to visit if you are sightseeing around the Forum and enjoy viewing old churches.
Historically, the church was created by way of repurposing and uniting the Temple of Romulus (circa 4th century) and the an earlier imperial library building. It contains two entrances, the first directly into the round rotunda of the old Temple of Romulus located within the Imperial Forum grounds while the other is facing Via dei Fori Imperiali. Opening hours are 10am to 1pm & 3pm to 6pm daily.
Entering from Via dei Fori Imperiali, there is a nice portico lined cloister that you walk through before entering the main church. You will find a nave lined with frescos leading to an attractive altar in front of apse masterpiece Byzantine mosaics (circa 6th and 7th century). There are three chapels on both sides of the nave with additional wall frescos and artworks.
All in all, Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano makes for a nice place to visit if you are sightseeing around the Forum and enjoy viewing old churches.
Written 22 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
234worldtraveler567
Boston, MA152 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
This is a beautiful church that is really unusual. The floor was raised about 7 meters so you are very close to the apse mosaic. The side chapels are beautiful, too, and the nativity scene is worth seeing. There is also a glass wall that lets you look down into the Temple of Romulus on the Roman Forum.
Written 26 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phil_oldham
Skipton, UK216 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
This is one of our two favourite churches in Rome (the other is San Clemente). It is easily overlooked as you walk along the Via dei Fori Imperiali from the Colosseum to the Vittoriano or vice versa, which is probably why it has so few reviews on Tripadvisor. The wall paintings are neither here nor there, but the mosaics all across the apse are just stunning. Unbelievable that they are 1200+ years old and still as fresh as ever. Can't recommend highly enough.
Written 16 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mmarymomm
Pleasanton, CA1,664 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This church is a welcome quiet side trip when visiting the ruins of Ancient Rome. It shares walls with other ancient structures and in particular the Temple of Romulus, a deified emperor. The main sight is a large mosaic behind the altar which shows Christ’s second coming. Along the bottom are many large sheep. There are also frescos and an interesting crucifixion panel of Jesus (?) in. a long robe. It is a great spot to get out of the crowds visiting the Roman excavations.
Written 9 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
almo67
48 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Happened to come across this Church on my walk towards the Colesseum. All the beauty with none of the tourists. I sat by myself amidst the beauty of architecture and faith.
Written 6 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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