MOUTH OF TRUTH, Church

Look up to admire the beautiful bell tower that belongs to the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and was built around the year 1100 in bricks and "boulders", that is, material obtained from ancient monuments. Take in its lively structure with blind arches and windows of various sizes, with its floors separated by elegant decorative bands.

The church is dedicated to the Madonna and stands on Roman foundations; it is close to the picturesque home of the Crescenzi family. If you're wondering what the strange "Cosmedin" name means, it has a very curious origin: in the early Middle Ages the church was entrusted to a community of Greeks who in their language called it "Kosmidion", which means "adorned". In fact, as you'll soon see, the church is full of frescoes, marble, and antique finds.

The church's original primitive appearance was restored at the end of the nineteenth century when its Baroque additions were removed and its medieval parts and a large amount of its architecture and decoration were brought to light....