The House of the Knights of Rhodes is located in the Forum of Augustus in the Monti district of Rome. It houses the antiquarium of the Forum. The Giovanni Battista dei Cavalieri di Rodi Chapel is also located inside the building. It can only be visited with a guided tour.
House of the Knights of Rhodes and San Giovanni Battista Chapel Rome
Address, opening times and ticket price
Address: Piazza del Grillo, 1 – Rome (Distrikt: Monti). Phone: Reservations: +39 060608 every day 9.00-21.00. Public transportation: Metro: Colosseo (line B). Opening Hours: Every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Closed: August. Admission: €3.00 (Reduction €2.00). Reservations by phone required. Entry is only allowed as part of a guided tour. This tour, organized by the different “cultural organizations” is not included in the price. (A visit to the church is included).
(Please note that, due to the Covid crisis, opening hours may differ.)
Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi
The House of Rhodes used to be the seat of the Roman Priory of the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (Priorato romano dell’ordine dei Cavalieri di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme). It was also known as the House of the Knights of Rhodes and of Malta.
The Knights have been housed in the building, which stands on top of ancient Roman constructions, since the 12th century. In 1566, when the Knights moved to the Aventine Hill, the Sisters of the Santissima Annunziata took over the building.
The adjacent convent was destroyed in 1930 to allow for excavations in the Forum of Augustus.
Between 1930 and 1945 the house was owned by the city of Rome, but after the war it reverted to the hands of the Maltese Knights.
The central part of the house is covered by a barrel vault and was transformed into the Cappella di San Giovanni Battista (Chapel of John the Baptist) in 1946.
One of its doors opens onto the portico-lined atrium of the Forum of Augustus.
San Giovanni Battista dei Cavalieri di Rodi Church
The full name of the church is Cappella Palatina di San Giovanni Battista dei Cavalieri di Rodi. In order to be able to construct the chapel, it was necessary to modify the central part of the building.
The frescoes in the lunettes were taken from the house of Flaminio Ponzio in the Via Alessandrina. This building was demolished in 1931. In 1945, the paintings were moved to the House of the Knights of Rhodes at the initiative of Guido Fiorini during restoration work.
The chapel vault dates back to the Renaissance period.