# Largo di Torre Argentina, Rome

> Largo di Torre Argentina is a central Roman square with the ruins of four Republican-era temples, from the 4th–2nd centuries BC, lying below street level — among the oldest in the city. You can look down on them free at any hour, and walkways among the ruins open for a small fee. It's also home to a famous cat sanctuary. Allow 20–40 minutes.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/largo-di-torre-argentina

- City: [Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome), Italy
- YesGo score: 53/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 30 min
- Entry: Free from street; walkways ≈ €5
- Opening hours: Street view 24 hours; walkways usually Tue–Sun by day
- With kids: Fine with kids
- From the street: Free, 24 hours
- Walk among the ruins: ≈ €5, usually Tue–Sun
- Temples: Four, 4th–2nd centuries BC — Temples A, B, C and D
- Cats: Cat sanctuary at the south-west corner, free to visit
- Time needed: 20 minutes from above, 40 with the walkways
- Location: Between the Pantheon and Campo de' Fiori; tram 8 terminus
- Coordinates: 41.89528, 12.47694
- Facts checked: 10.11.2026

## Key facts

- **4 temples** — from the Republic, 4th–2nd centuries BC (source: English Wikipedia)
- **1920s** — the ruins were uncovered when a neighbourhood was demolished (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Argentoratum** — Latin for Strasbourg, home of the tower's owner who gave the name (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Curia of Pompey** — remains of the Senate meeting hall at the western edge (source: English Wikipedia)
- **2023** — walkways opened through the ruins (source: English Wikipedia)

## Walking among the ruins

Since **2023** a system of **walkways and platforms** lets you go down into the site, pass between the temples and see altars, paving and statue fragments up close, with reconstruction panels along the way. It's ticketed — about **€5** according to guides — and usually open Tuesday to Sunday by day. From the pavements around the railing, the whole site is visible **free**.

## About the square

The square takes its name from the **tower** of Johannes Burckard, a papal master of ceremonies from **Strasbourg** — *Argentoratum* in Latin. In the **1920s**, demolition of an old quarter uncovered a **sacred precinct** with **four temples** from the Republic, among the oldest surviving in Rome.

Nobody knows for certain which gods they honoured, so they're labelled **A, B, C and D**. **Temple C**, from the 4th–3rd century BC, is the oldest; round **Temple B**, probably dedicated to Fortuna, is the most recognisable. At the western edge lie remains of the **Curia of Pompey**, where the Senate met in Caesar's day.

## Why these shrines matter

Almost everything visitors see in Rome is imperial. These temples are **centuries older**, built under the Republic in tufa and travertine rather than gleaming marble, showing what the city's sanctuaries looked like before Augustus. The ground has risen about 6 metres since, which is why they sit in a pit in the middle of a modern square.

## The Torre Argentina cats

Largo Argentina is also famous for its **cats**, who live among the ruins and sun themselves on ancient columns. Since the 1990s a **cat sanctuary** here has fed, treated and neutered strays and found them homes. The entrance is at the south-west corner, down a staircase; visits are free and volunteers welcome donations and sell souvenirs.

## What to see

- **Temple B** — round, with six columns, the most photogenic.
- **Temple C** — the oldest, 4th–3rd century BC.
- **Temple A** — with traces of a medieval church built inside it.
- **Remains of the Curia of Pompey** — at the western edge.
- **Cat sanctuary** — at the south-west corner.
- **Teatro Argentina** — one of Rome's oldest theatres, on the west side.
- **Burckard's tower** — the medieval tower behind the name, on Via del Sudario.

> **A handy transport hub** Largo Argentina is one of the centre's main transport hubs: tram 8 to Trastevere starts here, and buses leave for the Vatican, Termini and the Colosseum. If you're waiting, the ruins are right behind the stop.

## How to get to Largo Argentina

1. Tram **8** — the Argentina terminus.
2. Buses 40, 46, 62, 64 and 87 to Largo di Torre Argentina.
3. Walk from the [Pantheon](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pantheon) — 5 minutes south.
4. From [Campo de' Fiori](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/campo-de-fiori) — 5 minutes east.

## Is Largo Argentina worth it?

Yes, on the way: it sits between the Pantheon, Campo de' Fiori and Piazza Venezia, and nearly every walk through the centre passes it. The view from above is free, and cats on the columns are a favourite photo. If Republican Rome interests you, take the walkways — few places let you get this close to temples of that age.

## At Largo Argentina

Tick off what's done — your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] Walk round the railing to find round Temple B
- [ ] Check whether the walkways are open
- [ ] Drop into the cat sanctuary
- [ ] Hop on tram 8 to Trastevere
- [ ] Walk five minutes to the Pantheon

## Ancient Rome: compare and choose

Ancient sites in Rome rated by YesGo.

- [Pantheon](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pantheon) — YesGo score 82/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · ≈ €5
- [Colosseum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/colosseum) — YesGo score 73/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ≈ €18
- [Roman Forum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/roman-forum) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- [Circus Maximus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/circus-maximus) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Trajan's Column](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/trajans-column) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free
- [Capitoline Hill](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/capitoline-hill) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Castel Sant'Angelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/castel-sant-angelo) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €15–20
- [Arch of Constantine](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/arch-of-constantine) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free
- [Palatine Hill](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palatine-hill) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €18 with Colosseum
- [Largo di Torre Argentina](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/largo-di-torre-argentina) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free from street; walkways ≈ €5
- [Mausoleum of Augustus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/mausoleum-of-augustus) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · ≈ €5, booking
- [Pyramid of Cestius](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pyramid-of-cestius) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free outside
- [Appian Way](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/appian-way) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free
- [Domus Aurea](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/domus-aurea) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €18, with VR ≈ €26
- [Mouth of Truth](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/bocca-della-verita) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Donation ≈ €2
- [Baths of Caracalla](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/baths-of-caracalla) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ €8
- [Catacombs of Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/rome-catacombs) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ €10–12 with guide
- [Ara Pacis](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ara-pacis) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ €13–15
- [Theatre of Marcellus](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/theatre-of-marcellus) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
- [Vatican Museums](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/vatican-museums) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €25
- [Capitoline Museums](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/capitoline-museums) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ €15–19.50
- [Baths of Diocletian](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/baths-of-diocletian) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Basilica free; museum ≈ €10–12
- [Basilica of San Clemente](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/san-clemente) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Upper free; excavations ≈ €10–12
- [Imperial Fora](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/imperial-fora) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free from the street; museum ≈ €13–15
- [Testaccio](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/testaccio) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
- [Palazzo Massimo](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/palazzo-massimo) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ €10–12 combined ticket
- [Ostia Antica](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/ostia-antica) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €12–18
- [Hadrian's Villa](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/hadrians-villa) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ €12–15

## Baroque centre in a morning

Largo Argentina, the Gesù next door, Sant'Ignazio's painted ceiling and the Pantheon.

1. [Largo di Torre Argentina](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/largo-di-torre-argentina) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free from street; walkways ≈ €5
2. [Church of the Gesù](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/church-of-the-gesu) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
3. [Sant'Ignazio](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/sant-ignazio) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
4. [Pantheon](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pantheon) — YesGo score 82/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · ≈ €5

## Don't mix it up

Largo di Torre Argentina has nothing to do with Argentina: the name comes from Strasbourg's Latin name. The Teatro Argentina on the square is named after the tower too.

## Tips

- The view from above is free.
- Cats love to doze on Temple B.
- Tram 8 to Trastevere starts here.
- The Pantheon is 5 minutes away.

## Questions

### What are the ruins at Largo Argentina?

Four Republican temples from the 4th–2nd centuries BC and remains of the Curia of Pompey.

### Can you go down into the ruins?

Yes — walkways opened in 2023; entry is about €5.

### Why is it called Argentina?

After the tower of Burckard of Strasbourg — Argentoratum in Latin.

### Where is the cat sanctuary?

At the south-west corner of the square, down a staircase; free to visit.

### Where is Largo Argentina?

In central Rome, between the Pantheon and Campo de' Fiori; tram 8 terminus.

### How long do you need?

20 minutes from above, about 40 with the walkways.

## How we checked

History, temples and sanctuary from English Wikipedia. Walkway price and hours weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge.

## Sources

- English Wikipedia, Largo di Torre Argentina
- Rome municipal museums (Sovrintendenza Capitolina): Area Sacra di Largo Argentina

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