Rome Italy Temple

Visitor Insights

Visiting Rome Italy

The Rome Italy Temple complex is unique in its design as a public gathering space. While the temple interior is reserved for Church members, the expansive piazza, gardens, and Visitors' Center are open to the public and free of charge. The site is designed to be welcoming, offering a peaceful environment amidst the bustle of Rome.

Highlights

The Visitors' Center featuring the Christus and Twelve Apostles statues.
Ancient olive trees in the piazza, some over 400 years old.
The stained-glass mural containing authentic artifacts from the Holy Land.
FamilySearch Center for genealogy research.

Things to Know

Modest dress is appreciated on the temple grounds.
Photography is encouraged in the piazza and Visitors' Center.
No photography or video recording inside the temple itself.

About

The Rome Italy Temple stands as a monumental ecclesiastical landmark, situated in the northeast of Rome. As the 162nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it holds the distinction of being the first temple in Italy and the twelfth in Europe. Its presence is the culmination of decades of diplomatic efforts to secure the Intesa, a legal accord granting the Church full status as a partner of the state, allowing the edifice to function with full religious authority.

Designed to harmonize with Rome's rich artistic heritage, the temple complex departs from standard designs by utilizing a traditional Italian piazza layout. The temple sits at the eastern end of this square, facing a Visitors' Center that houses precise marble replicas of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus and the Twelve Apostles. This configuration encourages community gathering and serves as a powerful declaration of the Church's Christ-centered theology in the heart of historic Christianity.

The architecture is defined by the ellipse—a shape without beginning or end, symbolizing eternity. From the building's footprint to the "floating" grand staircase and the ceiling reliefs, the oval motif connects the concept of the "Eternal City" with the Latter-day Saint doctrine of eternal families. The grounds feature ancient olive trees, some centuries old, and the interior is adorned with materials native to Italy, including Bianco Sardo granite and Perlato Svevo marble, grounding the structure in the very land it serves.

Religion

Latter-day Saint

Status

Operating

Dedicated

March 10, 2019

Groundbreaking

October 23, 2010

Announcement

October 4, 2008

Architect

VCBO Architects (Niels Valentiner)

Height

156 ft (47.6 m)

Floor Area

41,010 sq ft

Gallery

Symbolic Elements

The temple's exterior features intricate carvings, each rich with spiritual meaning:

The Ellipse

The dominant geometric theme of the temple is the oval, inspired by Roman Baroque architecture. Because an ellipse has no beginning and no end, it symbolizes eternity and the eternal nature of the ordinances performed within.

Michelangelo’s Star

The twelve-pointed star design on the floor of the temple and piazza reproduces Michelangelo’s pavement in the *Piazza del Campidoglio*. It represents the center of the universe and the connection between heaven and earth.

The Olive Tree

Used in stained glass and landscaping, the olive tree symbolizes peace and the Resurrection (as it sprouts from its roots even when cut). It also references Gethsemane, meaning 'oil press'.

Acanthus Leaves

A traditional Roman architectural motif found throughout the temple's moldings and decorative elements, symbolizing enduring life and immortality in Mediterranean culture.

The Christus

The statue of the risen Christ in the Visitors' Center, bearing the marks of the crucifixion, emphasizes the Church's testimony of the living reality of Jesus Christ.

Bianco Sardo Granite

The exterior cladding is quarried in Italy, symbolizing that the restored gospel has found a native home in the Italian landscape rather than being a foreign import.

Interesting Facts

The 2019 dedication marked the first time in history that the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gathered in one location outside the United States.

Before construction, mandatory archaeological trenches were dug every 10–15 feet. Miraculously, no ruins were found on the temple footprint, though a Roman village was discovered just 100 yards away.

The elliptical staircase in the lobby is a 'floating' engineering feat, connecting only at the top and bottom with no central support pillars.

The stained-glass mural in the Visitors' Center contains actual physical fragments from the time of Christ, including a 'mite' coin, frankincense, and a stone from the Holy Land.

The marble used for the *Christus* and Apostle statues was sourced from the Cave Michelangelo in Carrara, the same quarry used for Michelangelo’s *David*.

When the temple was announced in 2008, the reaction in the Conference Center was an audible gasp followed by a murmur of excitement.

The temple could not be fully realized until the Church signed the *Intesa* with the Italian government in 2012, granting it status as a 'partner of the state'.

Ancient Roman paving stones discovered on the site were preserved and integrated into the temple complex design.

Olive oil harvested from the trees on the temple grounds is pressed and used for ceremonial anointings within the temple.

President Russell M. Nelson met with Pope Francis at the Vatican during the dedication weekend, the first-ever meeting between a Pope and an LDS Church President.

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Year-Old Olive Trees

Common Questions

Can tourists enter the Rome Italy Temple?

Tourists cannot enter the temple itself, as it is reserved for religious ordinances performed by Church members. However, the surrounding piazza, gardens, and the Visitors' Center are open to the public and free to explore.

What is inside the Visitors' Center?

The Visitors' Center features marble replicas of Thorvaldsen’s Christus and the Twelve Apostles, a large stained-glass mural depicting the life of Christ with authentic biblical artifacts, and a FamilySearch center for genealogy.

Why was a temple built in Rome?

Rome is historically significant as the site where apostles Peter and Paul preached and were martyred. The temple serves as a spiritual bridge between the ancient Christian church and the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

Did the construction disturb any Roman ruins?

Extensive archaeological trenching was required before construction. Miraculously, no ruins were found on the temple footprint, though an ancient Roman village was discovered just 100 yards outside the property line.

Is the temple near the Vatican?

The temple is located in northeast Rome, near the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA), about 10 miles (16 km) from the Vatican.

Featured Stories

The Historic Gathering

March 2019

In an unprecedented moment in Church history, the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles traveled to Rome for the temple dedication. It was the first time all fifteen senior leaders had gathered in a single location outside the United States. They assembled in the Visitors' Center for an iconic photograph, flanked by the statues of the ancient apostles.

This gathering underscored the global nature of the modern Church and its claim to apostolic succession. Standing in the city where Peter and Paul were martyred, the living apostles offered a powerful visual testimony of the restoration of ancient authority.

Source: Official Church Newsroom

The Miracle of the Ruins

Pre-Construction

Rome is a city built upon layers of history, making new construction difficult due to strict archaeological preservation laws. Before building could commence, the government required trenches to be dug every 10 to 15 feet across the entire 15-acre site to check for ruins. Church members in Italy fasted and prayed that the land would be clear.

Miraculously, the inspection revealed that the specific footprint of the temple was free of significant ruins. However, just 100 yards outside the property line, an ancient Roman village was discovered. Had the temple been positioned slightly differently, construction might have been delayed for decades or cancelled entirely.

Source: Deseret News / Church History

The Struggle for the Intesa

1990s–2012

For years, the Church operated in Italy as a charitable organization but lacked the full religious recognition known as the Intesa (accord). Without this status, the Church could not perform legally recognized marriages or enjoy tax exemptions, and the construction of a temple faced significant bureaucratic hurdles.

The announcement of the temple in 2008 accelerated diplomatic efforts. Church leaders and legal representatives worked tirelessly with Italian officials. The Intesa was finally signed into law in 2012, formally recognizing the Church as a 'partner of the state' and clearing the final path for the temple's completion.

The temple resumes operations following pandemic restrictions.

Event

History by Decade

1850s — The Early Missions

The history of the Church in Italy began in June 1850 when Apostle Lorenzo Snow, accompanied by two other missionaries, arrived in Genoa. They focused their efforts on the Waldensians, a Protestant group in the Piedmont region who had faced centuries of persecution. Despite early success and the translation of the Book of Mormon into Italian, political upheaval and the emigration of converts to Utah caused missionary work to effectively cease by the 1860s.

1960s–1990s — Return and Recognition

After a century-long hiatus, the Church returned to Italy. In 1964, a new Italian translation of the Book of Mormon was published, and in 1965, the government granted permission to resume missionary work. The Church grew steadily, organizing stakes and missions. By 1993, the Church received status as a charitable institution, a vital step toward legitimacy, though full religious recognition remained elusive.

2000s–Present — A Temple in Rome

The 21st century brought the fulfillment of long-held dreams for Italian Saints. The purchase of the temple site in 1997 set the stage for the 2008 announcement by President Thomas S. Monson. The subsequent signing of the Intesa in 2012 and the dedication of the temple in 2019 marked the Church's maturation in Italy. Today, the Rome Temple serves as a spiritual center for members across the Mediterranean.

Architecture & Facilities

Modern adaptation of Italian Baroque, designed by VCBO Architects (principal architect Niels Valentiner) to harmonize with Rome's artistic heritage. The recurring elliptical motif — inspired by Borromini's San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane and Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio — symbolizes eternity and appears in the building footprint, baptismal font, floating staircase, and ceiling reliefs. The complex is arranged as a traditional Italian piazza with the temple, Visitors' Center, stake center, and patron housing flanking a central square planted with 400–500-year-old transplanted olive trees. The exterior is clad in Bianco Sardo granite quarried and carved in Italy, with decorative art glass featuring an olive tree motif designed by Holdman Studios.

Building Materials

Exterior

Bianco Sardo granite with warm, earthy tones to match the Roman landscape.

Interior

Perlato Svevo marble, Cenia marble, Mediterranean Beige travertine, and Emperador Light stone.

Interior Features

Grand Staircase

An elliptical 'floating' staircase with bronze railings featuring the oval motif.

Instruction Rooms

Murals depicting the Italian landscape from the sea to the hills.

Temple Grounds

Designed as a Roman piazza with travertine pavers, fountains, and formal gardens containing ancient olive trees.

Additional Facilities

The complex is arranged as a traditional Italian piazza with a Visitors' Center, stake center, and patron housing flanking a central square. The Rome Italy Temple Visitors' Center features two Christus statues and exhibits on Church history and beliefs, and is open to the public free of charge.

Religious Significance

The Rome Italy Temple is situated in the 'Eternal City,' a location of profound historical weight for Christianity.

To provide a place for sacred ordinances that unite families for eternity, bridging the gap between the ancient apostles and the modern Church.

Sacred Ordinances

Vicarious Work

Italian members perform baptisms and sealings on behalf of their deceased ancestors, connecting generations.

A Hinge Point in History

President Russell M. Nelson described the dedication as a 'hinge point' for the Church, signaling a new era of global visibility and growth.

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Sources & Research

Every fact on Temples.org is backed by verified Sources & Research. Each piece of information is rated by source tier and confidence level.

Tier A

Official Primary source from official institution

Tier B

Academic Peer-reviewed or encyclopedic source

Tier C

Secondary News articles, travel sites, or general reference

Tier D

Commercial Tour operators, booking agencies, or promotional content

View All Sources (2)

Field	Source	Tier	Retrieved
Architectural Details	Church of Jesus Christ Temples (opens in a new tab)	C	2026-02-13
Visitor Center Details	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (opens in a new tab)	A	2026-02-13