Bill Viola’s The Greeting will be shown at Santa Maria Antiqua in Rome’s Roman Forum from 11 October 2026 to 7 February 2027. For travellers planning a visit to the archaeological area, it offers an unusual addition: a contemporary video work inside a church associated with early medieval wall paintings.
Why make time for The Greeting?
The work centres on three women meeting. Viola expands a brief encounter into a ten-minute sequence, allowing visitors to notice small changes in gesture, distance and expression. It is a visual experience that does not depend on following an Italian theatrical dialogue; the languages of explanatory material at the venue have not been confirmed.
Created in 1995, The Greeting draws on Pontormo’s Visitation, a sixteenth-century painting of Mary and Elizabeth meeting. The connection gives the scene a historical starting point without requiring specialist knowledge to follow its movement. The press release describes approximately 45 seconds filmed at 300 frames per second, then slowed into the finished video.
Ancient Rome, a medieval church and contemporary art
Santa Maria Antiqua adds another layer to a Forum itinerary: its early medieval decoration belongs to a period much later than the surrounding monuments of ancient Rome. Seeing Viola here can broaden a visit beyond the usual focus on imperial ruins.
The installation also coincides with the Pontormo exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale. Art-focused visitors can consider both venues, while checking each ticket separately. Allow at least the video’s documented ten-minute running time if you want to watch the complete work; the time needed for the church and the wider Forum is additional.
Practical information: admission and transport
Public dates: 11 October 2026–7 February 2027. Location: Santa Maria Antiqua, inside the Roman Forum archaeological area, Rome. The invitation-only presentation on 10 October is not public admission.
Installation opening hours and applicable admission price: still to be verified. The park’s official Forum Pass SUPER includes Santa Maria Antiqua and current exhibitions, but does not include the Colosseum. Confirm access to the church and the conditions for this installation when buying; do not assume every Colosseum ticket covers it.
Booking: use the park’s official website and its linked ticket office. The park lists a Forum entrance at Largo della Salara Vecchia; check the available gate before travelling. Getting there: metro line B to Colosseo, then walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali towards the Forum entrance. The church is reached within the archaeological area. Contact the venue for the appropriate route if you have mobility needs.
Official information: https://www.electa.it/ufficio-stampa/the-greeting-di-bill-viola-nel-foro-romano/ ; https://colosseo.it/en/tickets/forum-pass-super-ticket/ ; https://colosseo.it/en/opening-times-and-tickets/ . Plan the rest of your stay with Universinet’s free Rome Travel Guide: https://www.universinet.it/rome-travel-guide-2025-edition/ . It is the 2025 edition: recheck time-sensitive information.
