Mamertine Prison
The ancient dungeon where Saints Peter and Paul were said to be held.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling as a couple and you are traveling solo.
Why
- 01
A cramped, two-level stone dungeon beside the Forum where, by tradition, Saints Peter and Paul were held — you descend a tight stair into a windowless lower cell, cold and low-ceilinged, with the spring said to have appeared for Peter's baptisms.
Our read - 02
The multimedia layer helps, but it's brief and steep for the price: genuinely affecting if the saints' story or grim Republican-era history moves you, an easy skip if not.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Mamertine Prison works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, Mamertine Prison works.
Think twice if
You are traveling with kids
With kids, give Mamertine Prison a miss.
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Mamertine Prison isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Mamertine Prison is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
History and culture matter to you
For history & culture, Mamertine Prison is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- €10
- Timing
- Pair it with a Forum visit; it's a quick stop at any open hour.
- Booking
- Buy the €10 ticket on-site.
- Allow
- 30–45 min
- Accessibility
- Steep stairs down to the lower cell make it difficult for limited mobility.
- Getting there
- At the foot of the Capitoline Hill beside the Roman Forum; Metro B Colosseo nearby.