Built in the 7th century BC, Mamertine Prison is Rome’s oldest prison.
Known as the Tullianum during ancient times, it is also called the Tullianum Carcer.
It is a small, dark, and cramped place that held enemies of Rome, such as captured Kings, conspirators, and even Saints Peter and Paul, before the State executed them.
According to legend, a water spring flowed in Tullianum Carcer so St Peter (and two correctional officers) could baptize visitors.
After the site stopped being a prison, it became a holy destination because it had held some of the Bible’s most hallowed saints.
This article covers everything you must know before buying Mamertine Prison tickets.
Top Mamertine Prison Tickets
# Mamertine Prison Tickets
# Tickets for Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & Mamertine
Table of contents
Things to know before booking tickets
You can book tickets to Mamertine Prison online or at the attraction.
If you arrive at the venue to buy tickets, you must line up at the counter. During peak times, these lines can get long, and you will waste your time.
Online tickets for the Mamertine Prison are usually cheaper than those sold at the venue.
You also get your preferred time slot when you book online and in advance.
Online tickets also help you avoid last-minute disappointments when tickets get sold out.
To book tickets, visit the ticket booking page and select your preferred date, time, and number of tickets.
After the purchase, you will receive the tickets in your email. You don’t need to take any printouts.
On the day of your visit, show the e-ticket on your smartphone at the ticket office 10 minutes before your timeslot.
Please download the Vatican & Rome App from the AppStore or PlayStore to get the audio guide.
Tickets for Mamertine Prison
This Mamertine Prison ticket lets you explore Rome’s oldest prison and discover its fascinating history with a unique video guide.
The video guide is available in English, Italian, and Spanish.
Kids under six and visitors with 74% disability get in for free.
The audio guide is available in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Cost of tickets
The ticket for Mamertine Prison is priced at €11 for all adults aged 18 years and above.
Children between six and 17 years get a €4 discount and only pay €7 for entry.
Infants aged six years and below can enter for free.
Adult ticket (18+ years): €11
Child ticket (6 to 17 years): €7
Mamertine, Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
This combo ticket helps you explore Mamertine Prison, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill at a discounted price.
Once activated, your ticket is valid for 24 hours.
You must first visit Mamertine Prison, and when you show your smartphone ticket at the ticket office, you will receive your tickets for Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Your time to visit the Colosseum will be around 100 minutes after your time slot for the Prison (which you select while booking the ticket).
The Colosseum is a 15-minute walk from the Prison, and it is better to arrive at the massive attraction at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Ticket prices
Adult (18+ years): €30
Child (6 to 17 years): €7
Infant (up to 5 years): Free
Many visitors to Rome also book a guided tour of Colosseum and Mamertine.
Frequently asked questions about tickets
Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Mamertine Prison in Rome.
Entry is free for children up to six years old and visitors with 74% or more disability.
Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so getting them online in advance is better.
Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Mamertine Prison. You can show the ticket on your mobile at the ticket office at least 10 minutes before your chosen timeslot.
When you book your Colosseum tickets, you must select a preferred time of visit. Security clearance time can take up to 30 minutes, depending on the day and tourist season. Keeping this in mind, we recommend arriving well in advance of your visit time.
Entry to the attraction is not guaranteed if you are late to your timeslot.
The attraction offers discounted admission to children aged between six and 17 years.
Unfortunately, the attraction does not offer a dedicated student discount on their admission tickets.
The attraction does not offer a military discount on its admission tickets.
Yes, the 3-day OMNIA Vatican Card and Roma Pass combo is a cost-effective option providing entry to all the top sights in the Vatican City. Enjoy a 3-day hop-on hop-off bus tour. The card also allows you unlimited access public transportation network free of charge. You can avail free entry to two out of five top attractions and reduced rate admission to 30 top sights.
This attraction of Rome has a flexible cancellation policy. You can cancel your ticket until 11:59 pm on the day before your visit for a full refund by selecting a refundable ticket during checkout.
The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.
The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.
Three different types of tickets are available – Prison with audio guide, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Prison Entry Ticket, and Colosseum and Mamertine guided tour.
Opening hours
The Mamertine Prison opens daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
The last entry is one hour before closing.
How long does the tour take
Mamertine Prison is a small attraction, and most visitors finish exploring it in around 30 minutes, though the suggested duration is around one hour.
That’s why visitors tend to visit nearby attractions, such as the Roman Forum (1 min walk), Capitolini Museums (3 min walk), Colosseum (10 min walk), Pantheon (15 min walk), etc. together.
Tourists love combo tickets that include access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Mamertine Prison is when it opens for the day or later in the afternoon, close to closing time.
Weekdays are usually less crowded compared to weekends. If you have the flexibility, plan your visit on a weekday for a more serene experience.
What to expect
The Mamertine Prison consists of two dark underground cells where Rome’s enemies were imprisoned and usually executed.
Recently built steps take you to the upper level of the prison, which is at the original ground level of ancient Rome.
The upper room of the prison dates from the 2nd century BC and displays a plaque naming the more famous prisoners and how and when they died.
The second plaque lists the saints and martyrs imprisoned here and their persecutors.
You will also see the busts of Saints Peter and Paul in this room.
When the Prison was active, prisoners would be lowered into the lower room through a round opening on the upper floor.
Nowadays, visitors take a staircase to get to the lower room.
At the top, visitors can see the stone said to have St. Peter’s head imprint from when he was thrown into the prison.
The lower room, the Tullianum, is circular and has a small altar with a relief of St. Peter baptizing his fellow prisoners.
You will also see an upside-down cross at the altar because St. Peter was crucified upside down.
Don’t miss the column where St Peter and St Paul were tied when they converted two correctional officers to Christianity.
You will also see the spring St Peter was supposed to have miraculously created to baptize people.
History of the Prison
The Mamertine Prison was constructed in the 7th century BC under King Ancus.
Builder Servius Tullius built the lower room of the prison, which is why it is also known as Tullianum.
Ancient historian Sallust wrote that this part of the prison was dark and smelly and 3.6 meters (12 feet) below the ground and was dark and smelly.
Tullianum was used for the detention and execution of condemned criminals.
The prison was used until at least the late 4th century AD, after which it became a pilgrim site because of its association with Christian martyrs.
With time, it got the name Mamertinus.
In the 16th century, the San Guiseppe dei Falegnami church was built above the prison.
Christian connection
According to early legends, Saints Peter and Paul were imprisoned in the Mamertine jail by Emperor Nero before their execution.
It is believed that after being in this prison for some time, both started their journey to martyrdom – St Peter towards the Circus of Nero and St Paul towards the Aquae Salviae.
At St. Peter’s request, he was crucified upside down on the site of the Vatican, and St. Paul was beheaded at Three Fountains Abbey.
Believers say St Paul refers to the Mamertine prison in the Bible (Timothy 4:21) when he urges Timothy to visit him as he did not expect to get out until the following winter.
Even though there is no actual historical evidence for this, the prison is an important religious site.
The legend had taken root by the 5th century when the prison started attracting early pilgrims.
During his stay, St. Peter is known to have caused a spring to miraculously well up in the prison so that he could baptize his fellow prisoners and two guards.
However, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the spring existed long before St. Peter’s incarceration.
How to reach
The Mamertine Prison is on the northeastern slope of Capitoline Hill.
Address: Clivo Argentario, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions
It overlooks the ruinous and scarred Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome.
You can reach the prison by car or public transportation.
By Metro
You can take Metro Line B to the Colosseo station to get to the prison.
The attraction is just 900 meters (half a mile) from the station, and you can walk the distance in 10 minutes.
By Bus
If you prefer a bus, board 51, 85, 87, or 118 to reach Fori Imperiali/Campidoglio. From the bus stop, the prison is just a 3-minute walk.
The Ara Coeli/P.Za Venezia bus stop is also just a 6-minute walk from the prison. Board bus 30, 51, 81, 83, 85, 87, 118, 160, 170, 628, C3, or n716.
By Car
If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.
There are enough parking garages around the attraction.
Sources
# Romesite.com
# Bibleplaces.com
# Wikipedia.org
# Colosseumrometickets.com
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