Is Santa Maria Antiqua included in the Colosseum ticket?

It is inside the Roman Forum, but access to the church is controlled to protect the frescoes, and which ticket covers it has changed over time. Some periods required a specific ticket type or set entry times. Check the official Parco archeologico del Colosseo website for current rules before booking, rather than assuming a standard ticket gets you in.

Why are the frescoes in Santa Maria Antiqua so well preserved?

An earthquake in the ninth century brought down parts of the Palatine slope and buried the church, and it was abandoned. That sealed the paintings away from light and later rebuilding for about a thousand years. When archaeologists uncovered it in 1900, many walls still had their early medieval frescoes, which is extremely rare in Rome.

What is the palimpsest wall?

It is a section of wall near the altar where painters added new frescoes on top of older ones several times between the sixth and eighth centuries. Parts of the upper layers have fallen away, so you can see fragments of different paintings at once. It is one of the clearest places to see how church decoration changed over time.

How long should you spend at Santa Maria Antiqua?

Twenty to thirty minutes is usually enough to see the palimpsest wall, the Chapel of Theodotus, the rows of saints and the Oratory of the Forty Martyrs next door. If entry is by time slot, plan the rest of your Forum route around it. Your eyes need a minute to adjust, because the interior is kept quite dim.

Santa Maria Antiqua: Ancient Frescoes and How to Visit

Frescoed wall with a row of saints and granite columns inside Santa Maria Antiqua — A long frescoed wall with rows of saints and an ancient sarcophagus. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

What is Santa Maria Antiqua?

Santa Maria Antiqua is the oldest Christian church in the Roman Forum, set inside an imperial-era building at the foot of the Palatine Hill. It was in use from the 6th century, and its walls are covered with paintings from the 6th to the 8th centuries — a rare survival of early medieval art in Rome.

An earthquake in the 9th century buried the church, which is why the frescoes survived. It was rediscovered in 1900 and reopened to visitors after a long restoration.

Where the church sits at the foot of the Palatine. Orientation pins only, not a route. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Crucifixion fresco and donor portraits in the Chapel of Theodotus at Santa Maria Antiqua — The Chapel of Theodotus: an 8th-century Crucifixion above the donor family. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

What should you see inside?

Look for the so-called palimpsest wall near the altar, where several layers of painting from different centuries overlap and you can see one generation painting over another. Then find the Chapel of Theodotus to the left of the altar: a Crucifixion with Christ in a long robe, and portraits of the donor family, including square halos marking people who were alive when it was painted.

The side walls carry long rows of saints, and next to the church is the small Oratory of the Forty Martyrs, with faded scenes of soldiers who froze to death for their faith.

Faded frescoes in the Oratory of the Forty Martyrs next to Santa Maria Antiqua — The Oratory of the Forty Martyrs, beside Santa Maria Antiqua. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

What should you look for in a short visit?

Where	Look for
Near the altar	The palimpsest wall with overlapping layers
Left of the altar	Chapel of Theodotus, Crucifixion and donor family
Donor portraits	Square halos for living people
Side walls	Rows of saints and Old Testament scenes
Next door	Oratory of the Forty Martyrs

How do you visit Santa Maria Antiqua?

The church is inside the Roman Forum, near the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the House of the Vestals. Because the frescoes are fragile, access is controlled: opening days, time slots and which ticket includes entry have changed over the years. Check the official Parco archeologico del Colosseo site before you go rather than assuming it is open with a standard Forum ticket.

Inside it is dim and cool, and photography rules may apply. Allow twenty to thirty minutes.

Prices, ticket names and time slots are set by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo and change; check the official ticket page before buying.

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Reviewed October 2026. Ticket names, prices, hours and open areas change — always confirm on the official pages.

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Maria Antiqua included in the Colosseum ticket?: It is inside the Roman Forum, but access to the church is controlled to protect the frescoes, and which ticket covers it has changed over time. Some periods required a specific ticket type or set entry times. Check the official Parco archeologico del Colosseo website for current rules before booking, rather than assuming a standard ticket gets you in.
Why are the frescoes in Santa Maria Antiqua so well preserved?: An earthquake in the ninth century brought down parts of the Palatine slope and buried the church, and it was abandoned. That sealed the paintings away from light and later rebuilding for about a thousand years. When archaeologists uncovered it in 1900, many walls still had their early medieval frescoes, which is extremely rare in Rome.
What is the palimpsest wall?: It is a section of wall near the altar where painters added new frescoes on top of older ones several times between the sixth and eighth centuries. Parts of the upper layers have fallen away, so you can see fragments of different paintings at once. It is one of the clearest places to see how church decoration changed over time.
How long should you spend at Santa Maria Antiqua?: Twenty to thirty minutes is usually enough to see the palimpsest wall, the Chapel of Theodotus, the rows of saints and the Oratory of the Forty Martyrs next door. If entry is by time slot, plan the rest of your Forum route around it. Your eyes need a minute to adjust, because the interior is kept quite dim.