The House of the Vestals lies beside the circular Temple of Vesta in Rome’s Forum. Its remains belonged to the residence and working quarters of the Vestal priestesses, whose duties included tending the sacred fire associated with the safety of the Roman state. Look for the courtyard, pools and surviving statues, then take time to picture daily life in this inward-facing complex. A guided tour can help explain how the house fitted into the Forum and the neighbouring Palatine Hill.
A residence beside the Temple of Vesta
The Casa delle Vestali stood behind the circular Temple of Vesta on the eastern edge of the Roman Forum. It was the home and working palace of the Vestal priestesses, the only female priesthood in ancient Rome. The complex was a major residence within the Forum’s sacred boundary, set among the political and religious spaces of the city.
The building rose three storeys and contained more than 50 rooms. Its layout turned inward around a long courtyard, with pools and statues. The surviving remains give a sense of a substantial household rather than a single ceremonial hall. Baths, kitchens and storerooms point to the practical work needed to support the Vestals’ daily lives and rituals.
The Vestals and the sacred fire
Six priestesses served Vesta and cared for her sacred flame. Romans believed that the fire represented the life and safety of the state, so keeping it alight was central to the Vestals’ religious responsibilities. They also prepared ritual materials, including mola salsa, for public sacrifices.
The priestesses were chosen from noble families as young girls and undertook a 30-year vow of chastity. Their status brought unusual legal independence and public honours for women in Rome. They could own property and make wills, among other privileges. That standing came with severe obligations: neglect of the sacred fire or a breach of chastity carried brutal penalties.
What remains in the courtyard
The courtyard is the clearest place to appreciate the house’s inward-facing plan. Pools and statues once accompanied the daily routines of the priestesses; surviving figures still line parts of the site. The arrangement offers a quieter contrast with the Forum’s public spaces, while remaining closely connected to the religious and civic life around it.
After the cult ended in the late fourth century, imperial and papal officials used the house before it fell into ruin. Today, its remains sit within the broader archaeological area of the Forum and Palatine Hill. The site is easy to pass over among the many ruins, so look for it behind the Temple of Vesta and allow time to notice the courtyard and statues.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the House of the Vestals?
It is in the Roman Forum, behind the circular Temple of Vesta on the Forum’s eastern edge.
Who lived in the House of the Vestals?
The residence housed Rome’s six Vestal priestesses, who cared for Vesta’s sacred fire and prepared materials for public sacrifices.
What can you see at the House of the Vestals?
The remains include an inward-facing courtyard with pools and statues, along with parts of a large, multi-storey residence.
