Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

The Rome Mamertine Prison is among the most ancient jails in Rome. It is mostly famous for the stay of the Apostles Peter and Paul and for its capital executions. The Mamertine Rome Prison was discovered during archeological searches within the area of the Oblati of Maria Vergine, which is an annexe to the church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami (St John of the Carpenters).

The prison is also known as Carcer Tullianum and is located in a very central area of Rome next to the Capitole Square – Piazza Campidoglio -  and the famous Capitoline she-wolf, while you can also admire also the famous statue of the Emperor Marc Aurel refurbished recently– and near the Scale Gemonie and beneath the very church of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami.

The Mamertine Jail is divided in 2 levels and the deepest floor which is the Tullianium was built under the King Anco Marzio (VIII – VII centuries B.C) during archaic times. The Tullianum is a floor constructed with blocks set in a circular way. Due to its shape it was believed to be a fountain or a water tank.

The upper floor, better known as the Carcer (jail) was built only at a later stage, presumably in the VI century B.C under Rome King Servius Tullius (Servio Tullio). This level was made in a square shape with huge blocks the colour ochre and red.

Within the building’s pavement still exists a small stream of water, which has almost completely disappeared nowadays, and the story goes that the stream would be sufficient to fill up the Tullianum to be used as a well for the Capitoline Rome Hill during ancient times.

Both floors are connected thanks to a round shaped hole in the pavement between Carcer and Tullianum. An inscription on the walls of the holes says Consoli C Vibio Rufinio and Cocceiro Nerva, both supposed to have contributed in the building the monument during the first century AC.

Nowadays a modern staircase goes down from the Carcer to the Tullianum but in ancient times you could only enter by the circular hole joining the 2 levels.

Famous prisoners stayed there, such as the Apostles Paul and Peter with other followers, and legend goes that Peter miraculously made a water hen to appear and subsequently using it to convert and baptize the jail guards Processo and Martiniano who then were martyrs also at a later stage. The Apostles were not to be executed in the prison, but Peter was taken to the Vatican Hill, and Paul to the Acque Salvie now known better as the Abbazia delle Tre Fontane (the Three Fountains Abbaye). Nowadays in Rome the 29th june is the commemorative day of St Peter  and Paul, and is a  bank holiday and mostly religious celebrations take place.

Among other famous personalities who stayed in the prison and who were decapitated or strangled were the followers of Gaio Gracco, the King of the Numidia Giugurta and Senators Lentulo and Cetego.

How to get there : From My Hotel Rome, go to the Termini station and Take line B metro and get off at Colosseo (2 stops away) and walk down the Fori Imperiali  to the Mamertine Prison.