Public space
Trevi, Rome
Trevi Fountain
Shot here: Roman Holiday (1953) · La Dolce Vita (1960)
41.9009° N / 12.4833° E
Filming location · Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome
Bocca della Verità
The ancient marble face that, legend says, bites the hands of liars, and nearly gave Audrey Hepburn a real scare.
Open set hours41.8881° N / 12.4816° E
Coordinates from published sources · on-site check pending
The scene
What happened at Bocca della Verità
Joe Bradley tells Ann that the Mouth of Truth bites off the hand of anyone who lies, then pulls his arm back as if it had been swallowed. Hepburn’s shriek looks genuine because, according to the long-told story, Peck and Wyler didn’t warn her about the gag.
The mask itself is a huge marble disc, probably an ancient Roman drain cover, set into the portico of the medieval church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
Then & Now
On location today
The mask hangs in the church portico behind a gate. A short, orderly queue forms most of the day for a quick hand-in-the-mouth photo.
Line up the shot
Take the photo from the side, at the mask’s eye level, with your arm in up to the wrist, just like Peck.
Field notes from this spot
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