Casa delle Vestali

Ancient Rome


The Casa delle Vestali, situated in the heart of the Roman Forum, was home to the Vestal Virgins who tended the sacred flame in the adjoining Tempio di Vesta. At its centre is a rectangular grassy space lined with a string of statues, now mostly headless, depicting the Vestals.

The six priestesses were selected from patrician families when aged between six and 10 to serve in the temple for 30 years. If the flame in the temple went out, the priestess responsible would be flogged, and if she lost her virginity she would be buried alive, since her blood couldn't be spilled. The offending man would be flogged to death.

Transportation

  • bus: Via dei Fori Imperiali

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ancient Rome attractions

1. Roman Forum

0.02 MILES

An impressive – if rather confusing – sprawl of ruins, the Roman Forum was ancient Rome's showpiece center, a grandiose district of temples...

2. Tempio di Vesta

0.03 MILES

This circular temple on the Roman Forum was dedicated to Vesta, the popular goddess of home, hearth and family. The Vestal Virgins, who lived next door in…

3. Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Miranda

0.04 MILES

Fronted by soaring columns, the Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Miranda occupies the 2nd-century Tempio di Antonino e Faustina on the Roman Forum. Dating to the…

4. Rampa di Domiziano

0.05 MILES

Accessible through the Chiesa di Santa Maria Antiqua, this ramp is actually a vast passageway that allowed the emperors to enter the Roman Forum from…

5. Tempio di Romolo

0.05 MILES

Also known as the Tempio del Divo Romolo, this 4th-century brick temple on the Roman Forum was once thought to have been dedicated to Valerio Romolo, the…

6. Tempio di Castore e Polluce

0.05 MILES

In the centre of the Roman Forum, three Corinthian columns are all that survive from the Tempio di Castore e Polluce, also known as the Tempio dei…

7. Tempio di Giulio Cesare

0.05 MILES

This temple, also known as the Tempio del Divo Giulio, was built by Augustus in 29 BC on the spot in the Roman Forum where Julius Caesar's body was…

8. Chiesa di Santa Maria Antiqua

0.05 MILES

The oldest and most important Christian site on the Roman Forum, this ancient church is a unique treasure trove of early Christian art. Its cavernous…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "italy/rome/ancient-rome/attractions/casa-delle-vestali/a/poi-sig/1280914/1321271",
      "destination": "Ancient-Rome",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Italy",
      "region": "Lazio",
      "city": "Rome",
      "neighborhood": "Ancient-Rome",
      "position": "superzone"
    }