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A small, ancient Roman temple once served as a church dedicated to penitents' patron saint.
The Temple of Portunus, located in the ancient Forum Boarium near the Tiber river, is a well-preserved example of ancient Roman architecture. The temple overlooks the fluvial port of Rome, watching over the goods entering the city. The small temple, which is raised on a podium, is a pseudoperipteros. Four free Ionic columns are located on the portico, while the other columns are connected along the walls of the cella. The temple dates back to the 1st century and was dedicated to Portunus, the Roman god of doors, keys, and livestock, but for centuries it was thought to be dedicated to Fortuna Virilis, a manifestation of the goddess Fortuna.
