If you’re visiting Rome you might like to follow in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck and re-enact the scene in the film Roman Holiday. If you walk between the Circus Maximus and the Island in the Tiber you’ll find the  Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin where you can put your hand over the Bocca della Verità or Mouth of Truth which hangs in the portico of the Church.

The carving is thought to be part of an ancient Roman fountain or perhaps a drain-cover. If a jealous lover wanted to test their partner’s fidelity, they would put their hand in the mouth of the stone river god – it was thought that a liar would have his hand bitten off but the faithful lover would go untouched.

When we stopped by to test out the legend, the queue of visitors having their photo taken was rather long, so we contented ourselves with watching other people have their photo taken with their hand in the mouth of the statue.

It’s a fun thing to do  and everyone seemed to emerge with their arm intact – just so long as you really are the faithful kind!

Photos by Heatheronhertravels