The House of the Knights of Rhodes
The House of the Knights of Rhodes is a medieval palace in the heart of Rome, situated on the Imperial Forums near the Forum of Augustus. Originally an Augustinian priory founded in the twelfth century, the complex was acquired in 1467 by Pope Paul II and donated to the Knights of Rhodes (the Order of Saint John), who transformed it into their Roman residence and administrative centre. The building preserves one of Rome’s finest intact medieval loggia interiors and a remarkable collection of original stone shields bearing the insignia of Grand Masters of the Order.
At a glance
- Type
- Medieval palace and former religious priory
- Period
- 12th century (Augustinian foundation); expanded and donated to the Knights of Rhodes in 1467
- Style
- Romanesque and Gothic with Renaissance loggia
- Location
- Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome (Rione Campitelli), adjacent to the Forum of Augustus
- Coordinates
- 41.8948° N, 12.4868° E
Overview
The House of the Knights of Rhodes stands as one of the most atmospheric medieval survivals in central Rome, embedded into the fabric of the ancient Imperial Forums. Its position overlooking the Forum of Augustus creates an extraordinary layering of Roman, medieval and Renaissance history in a single urban block. The building is now managed by Rome’s municipal heritage administration and opens to the public on guided tours.
History
An Augustinian religious community established a priory on this site in the twelfth century, constructing a church dedicated to Sant’Basilio and conventual buildings above the ancient ruins. In 1467 Pope Paul II transferred the complex to the Knights of the Order of Saint John, then based on the island of Rhodes, who used it as their Roman headquarters and diplomatic residence. The Knights commissioned significant renovations including the loggia, chapel and heraldic stone decorations that survive today. When the Order relocated its seat to Malta after 1530, the Roman property passed through various hands before being studied and partially restored in the twentieth century.
What you see
The most celebrated interior feature is the elegant Gothic loggia on the piano nobile, its arched bays opening onto views of the Forum of Augustus below. The walls carry stone escutcheons carved with the coats of arms of successive Grand Masters of the Order of Saint John, forming a rare heraldic sequence spanning the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The chapel of Sant’Giovanni preserves fragments of medieval fresco, and the external tower gives the building its distinctive silhouette against the backdrop of the Forum of Augustus colonnade. Visitors enter through a courtyard that reveals the stratified archaeology of the site, with Roman masonry visible in the lower courses of the medieval walls.
Cultural significance
The building occupies a unique position in Rome’s heritage landscape as the only intact medieval palatial complex directly abutting the Imperial Forums, offering rare evidence of how medieval Rome built upon and within ancient ruins. Its heraldic collection provides primary documentation of the leadership of the Knights of Saint John during a critical period of Mediterranean history, including the Order’s defence of Rhodes against Ottoman expansion. The loggia is considered one of the finest examples of fifteenth-century secular Gothic architecture surviving in Rome.
Practical information
The House of the Knights of Rhodes opens for guided visits on selected days managed by Roma Capitale’s heritage division. Check the official website of Roma Capitale or contact the Sovrintendenza Capitolina for current opening times and reservation requirements. Admission fees apply; advance booking is strongly recommended as group sizes are limited.
Getting there
The building is located on Via dei Fori Imperiali, a short walk from the Colosseo metro station (Line B). Bus lines serving Piazza Venezia and Via dei Fori Imperiali stop within 200 metres. The nearest landmark is the Forum of Augustus, directly across the excavated area. On-street parking is severely restricted in this zone; arriving by public transport is strongly advised.