The Temple of Saturn at a glance
The Temple of Saturn stands at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. It is one of the oldest cult places in the Forum and was the seat of the Aerarium, the Roman state treasury. An inscription that survives on the ruin commemorates a restoration after a fire.
The Saturn temple is easy to spot, but it is only one of several temples along the route. Vesta, Antoninus and Faustina, and Castor and Pollux each date from a different period and had a different purpose. The sections below help you tell them apart on site.
The temples of the Forum compared
Dates and details for the four temples on this page.
| Temple | Dedicated to | Key date | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple of Saturn | Saturn | – | The surviving inscription about a restoration after a fire |
| Temple of Vesta | Vesta | Late 2nd century AD (visible phase) | The round plan, next to the House of the Vestals |
| Temple of Antoninus and Faustina | Faustina, then both | AD 161 | Six front columns and the church door set high in the wall |
| Temple of Castor and Pollux | The divine twins | 484 BC; rebuilt AD 6 | Three tall Corinthian columns |
For the exact order of these stops on foot, see the Forum map and route.
Forum tours with the temples
Guided visits that cover the Temple of Saturn, the Vestals and the Forum temples, with live prices and availability. Check what each tour includes.
The Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestals
Vesta's temple is a round building for the sacred fire. The phase you see today is linked to a restoration under Julia Domna at the end of the 2nd century AD. The belief that the cult goes back to Numa Pompilius is Roman tradition, not a proven founding date.
Next to it lay the House of the Vestals, a residence around a courtyard with a water basin and statues of the chief Vestals. The statues now shown in the courtyard are copies. Six priestesses tended the fire, and their service lasted 30 years.
The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
The temple was first built for the deceased Faustina. After the death of Antoninus Pius in AD 161 it was dedicated to both. The porch has six front columns of cipollino marble. The building was later converted into a church known as San Lorenzo in Miranda. The church door high in the wall shows how much lower the ground was before the excavations.
Seeing a ruin on your route does not mean its interior is open. Do not count on entering the cella or the church, and do not expect opening times or a separate ticket for San Lorenzo in Miranda.
The Temple of Castor and Pollux
Three columns from a much older cult.
The temple of the Dioscuri was dedicated in 484 BC. The three striking Corinthian columns belong to the rebuilding under Tiberius in AD 6. The story that the divine twins appeared in battle is a legend.
And the Temple of the Divine Julius?
Nearby stands the monument to the deified Caesar. The Senate decree for the temple is dated to 42 BC. It is neither Caesar's tomb nor the place of his murder.
A short timeline of the temples
The dates you can rely on, in order.
484 BC
Dedication of the Temple of Castor and Pollux.
42 BC
The Senate decree for the Temple of the Divine Julius.
AD 6
The Tiberian rebuilding of the Dioscuri temple, which gave the three columns.
AD 161
After the death of Antoninus Pius, his temple is dedicated to both Antoninus and Faustina.
Late 2nd century AD
The Temple of Vesta is restored under Julia Domna, the phase you see today.
Saturn
The Temple of Saturn is one of the oldest cult places in the Forum. On site, look for the surviving inscription that recalls a restoration after a fire.
Seeing the temples on your visit
Where they fit, and what to read next.
On the standard route
All four temples stand in the open Forum area, so a Forum ticket is enough to see them from the paths. Last entry is 17:30 until 24 October 2026 and 15:30 from 25 October 2026. See the opening hours.
Evening visits
The Friday evening programme of 2026 passes the House of the Vestals, the Temple of Vesta and the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. See the Forum at night.
For more context
The Arch of Septimius Severus also stands at the foot of the Capitoline. Read about it on our arches page. The nearby Colosseum is covered by our sister guide.
Temple of Saturn: frequently asked questions
What was the Temple of Saturn used for?
It was a cult place of Saturn and the seat of the Aerarium, the Roman state treasury. A surviving inscription recalls a restoration after a fire.
Can I go inside the temples?
Do not count on it. You see the temples from the Forum paths. Seeing a ruin does not mean the cella or a church built into it is open.
Which temple has the three columns?
The Temple of Castor and Pollux. The three Corinthian columns belong to the rebuilding of AD 6.
Who looked after the fire of Vesta?
Six priestesses, the Vestals. Their service lasted 30 years, and they lived in the House of the Vestals beside the temple.
Why is the church door high above the ground?
At the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina the door shows the earlier, higher ground level before the modern excavations.