Rome is a city of ancient temples and it's hard to not just randomly stumble into one. That's what happened this afternoon as I was headed from place to place. The Temple of Portunus is very well preserved considering that it was built in the 3rd or 4th century BC and survives. It is worth a visit.
It may seem odd that the temple is devoted to Portunus, the god of locks, doors, and animals, but there are good reasons for it. At a sharp bend of the Tiber River, the location looked over the Port Tiberinus. Portunus stood here and watched the livestock barges come into the city.
The grounds are open from all angles though the temple itself is surrounded by a fence to prevent access or vandals.
[Review 19157 overall - 312 in Italy - 127 of 2023.] read more