- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Photo: Remi Jouan, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site
Basilica of Neptune
Roman basilica in honour of Neptune
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Coordinates
- 41°53′54″ N, 12°28′37″ E
History and description
The Basilica of Neptune (Latin: Basilica Neptuni) was an ancient Roman basilica constructed c. 25 BCE under Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in honour of Neptune to celebrate his naval victories at Mylae, Naulochus and Actium. Surviving fragments of the basilica remain visible on the Campus Martius in Rome.
History
According to Cassius Dio, the basilica was initially constructed by Agrippa as part of a larger building program on the Campus Martius from 33 — 25 BCE. This project included the Pantheon, the Saepta Iulia and the Baths of Agrippa and was possibly financed by the proceeds from recent military victories in Illyria. The basilica was reconstructed under Hadrian (r. 117 – 138 CE) following the original basilica's destruction in a fire under Titus. This led some scholars to misidentify the Basilica of Neptune with the nearby Temple of Hadrian.
Description
The brick structure consisted of a large rectangular hall measuring 45 metres (148 ft) long and 19 metres (62 ft) wide, with rectangular and semicircular niches surrounding the space. It more closely resembled the imperial thermae than the classical Roman civic basilicas. The roof was cross-vaulted and was supported by Corinthian columns that upheld an entablature decorated with marine motifs. Remains of the ornamentation can be seen from Via della Palombella. Andrea Palladio drew the floorplan of the structure in the 16th century basd on the visible remains, which illustrate the architectural relationship between the Pantheon, the Baths of Agrippa, and the Baths of Neptune.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Basilica of Neptune».
Photos
Getting there
FlaminioTrain, nearest
1.6 km as the crow flies
Basilica of Neptune
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino14.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
Loading map…
Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Basilica of Neptune?
Basilica of Neptune is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.89827, 12.47705.
What else is there to see near Basilica of Neptune?
Nearby you’ll find: Pantheon (0 m away), Palazzo Melchiorri Aldobrandini (100 m away), Saepta Julia (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Pantheon Rome detail (1) — Remi Jouan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Apse, Basilica of Neptune (Rome) — MumblerJamie, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Arte romana, fregio con delfini dalla basilica di nettuno (RM) II sec dc. ca, con retro scolpito nel XII sec. 01 — sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Back Wall, Basilica of Neptune (Rome) — MumblerJamie, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Column, Basilica of Neptune (Rome) — MumblerJamie, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pigna - via della Palombella - Basilica di Nettuno 00051 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pigna Basilica di Nettuno a via della Palombella 1000298 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Remains of the Basilica of Neptune immediately to the south of the Pantheon, built by Agrippa in 25 AD and destroyed by fire in 80 AD, reconstructed by Hadrian, Rome (31618085434) — Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pigna - Tempio di Nettuno al Pantheon 1000158 — Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences