Palace of Tiberius in Rome. What the Palatine looks like in Rome: photo. Temples of ancient Rome
Hill Palatine begins its history even before the founding of Rome. Shepherds lived on this site about three thousand years ago. Later, the hill became the main scene of action in the legend about Romulus and Remus. Experts have found settlements founded in 1000 BC, which confirms the earlier settlement of the Palatine compared to the other six hills. The greatest Roman poem, The Aeneid, says that the first city on the site of Rome was founded by people from the harsh Greek Arcadia. It was called Pallantium, and the Palatine was its core and center. Although, perhaps, the hill was named after Pales, the patron goddess of shepherds.
Romulus settlement model The history of Ancient Rome began from this place. It was at the foot of the Palatine, according to legend, that a basket with two babies, Remus and Romulus, who became the founders of the “Eternal City,” was washed up by the waves of the Tiber. According to legend, here was the cave of the she-wolf (Lupercalia), who nursed the brothers.
Subsequently, Romulus surrounded the Palatine Hill with a wall with two gates - this was the first semblance of the “Eternal City”.
The legendary cradle of Rome in our time has become its most romantic garden with columns fallen among wildflowers. During the Roman Republic, this area was considered elite and only the rich and aristocrats lived here, such as Crassus and Cicero. There stood the house of the Gracchi family, from which the brother reformers of the 2nd century BC emerged. e., Tiberius Claudius Nero, the father of Emperor Tiberius, lived there, Mark Antony, Caesar’s comrade-in-arms and future husband of Cleopatra, lived there.
The imperial style began in August. Subsequent emperors tried to surpass and eclipse him. Over time, the entire area turned into one huge palace. The word palace itself comes from the name of the hill.
The invasion of barbarians turned the Palatine into a scorched desert. The hill remained uninhabited until the seventeenth century, when it came into the possession of Pope Paul III Farnese. From this moment on, the revival of the hill begins. It was this family that first began to partially restore the long-forgotten history.
View of the Palatine Hill with the Arch of Constantine. A.R.L.Ducros (1748-1810) Private archaeological work on the Palatine Hill was completed with the support of Napoleon III in the 1960s, after which the Roman authorities seized Napoleon's property due to the historical value discovered during the excavations.
Nowadays, the Palatine is a collection of architectural monuments from various eras, from the ancient period to the buildings of the nineteenth century. That is why all travelers who are even slightly interested in history and architecture should visit the place where the history of the great city begins.
There is little reminiscent of imperial pomp on the current Palatine. For a long time the hill was completely closed to visitors: there was a leisurely archaeological excavations. This work continues today (a minority of the monuments have been excavated), but the Palatine is one of the few archaeological sites in the center of Rome where you can simply walk and forget about what this hill was for the people who lived on and around it two thousand years ago : the buildings on the Palatine are even worse preserved than on the Forum; there are almost no signs. And the impressive brick-lined ribs and vaults protruding along the edges of the hill are not the remains of the buildings themselves, but their foundations. In addition, the Palatine grew not only in breadth, but also in height. The current hill is largely the work of human hands: in its central part the cultural layer rises above the natural geological base by as much as fifteen meters!
You can climb the Palatine Hill from the eastern part of the Roman Forum, from the ruins of the House of the Vestals.
View of the Forum from the Palatine Hill The pavilions and terraces of the 17th-century gardens, laid out by the Farnese family, offer wonderful views of the Forum. A small museum displays artifacts discovered nearby. The botanical rarities of the Farnese gardens were famous back in the 17th century, but the current layout of the plantings is largely the work of the archaeologist from the time of Napoleon III, Giacomo Boni. Boni worked on the excavations of the Forum, but lived on the Palatine. There he is buried - in the center of the garden, which he restored according to ancient Roman models.
Farnese Gardens on the Palatine The Farnese Gardens are surrounded by temples. The main religious center of Rome was the Capitol - from the western part of the current gardens there was a majestic view of the Temple of Jupiter. But this view became especially majestic when, through the efforts of several generations, the Palatine was equal in height to the Capitol.
To the west of the garden is the House of Augustus ( Casa di Augusto), in which Augustus lived around 30 BC, before gaining supreme power and building his palace complex higher on the hill Domus Augustana. After many years of restoration in 2008 for visitors rooms with exquisite frescoes opened.
House of Augustus Palace architecture Domus Augustana quite simple and made of marble. Nearby is a temple to the ancient Roman god Apollo, which is also made of pure marble. There are two libraries in the temple. At the beginning of our era, the palace burned down, but its owner immediately began to reconstruct the building. As a result, everything was restored to its original form, and a beautiful colonnade appeared nearby. It consisted of fifty-two columns, the spaces between which were filled with amazing statues.
House of Libya 
Romulus's Hut
House of Livia ( Casa di Livia), in which his ambitious wife lived, is also decorated with wonderful frescoes and wall mosaics. This may be the former home of the orator Hortensius, purchased by Augustus. The surviving paintings depict garlands of fruits and flowers, landscapes in the Egyptian style, and in the central room - mythological scenes. On one wall there are depictions of the nymph Galatea and her lover sea giant Polyphemus, on the other - Io, who is guarded by Argus. On the sides long wall there are two small paintings in the Greek style, called pinax, “tablet” - they were valued very highly and were closed with special doors; both have three-figure compositions depicting noble women. Nearby, three round stone-age dwellings excavated from the legendary founding of Rome are known as the Huts of Romulus ( Cappane di Romolo).
Covered arcade Criptoportico connected buildings on the Palatine Hill with the Palace of Nero.
Western part the hill was decorated with the palace of Tiberius ( Domus Tiberiana).
Huge ensemble of ruins Domus Flavia includes a basilica, throne and banquet halls, baths, porticoes and a labyrinthine fountain. Together with Domus Augustana the complex is known as the Palace of Domitian. The architecture of the building itself was luxurious and particularly elegant. On the territory of the palace there was a basilica and various halls. For example, the Throne Room, where the emperor gave audiences and held councils. The dining hall was gigantic - it exceeded thirty meters in length and height. The walls were decorated with three tiers of multi-colored columns. Everything around shone with marble and polished granite. The dining room was surrounded by gardens with fountains. Open courtyards were built around, each the size of a palace.
Palace of Domitian To the east of this splendor another gigantic garden was laid out in the form of a “stadium” or “hippodrome” - one of the most impressive spectacles on the Palatine. What was in the Palatine “stadium”, other than the fountains on both sides (for which Domitian had a weakness), is unknown. Perhaps gold and silver statues depicting the emperor, which he only allowed to be erected, assigning their weight himself.
Stadium of Domitian Septimius Severus, the last emperor to build on the Palatine Hill, erected an imperial palace on the southeastern edge of the hill. Therefore it Domus Severiana was the first thing that caught the eye of visitors to the capital. The building had a very interesting design of seven floors, and each level rises above the previous one thanks to high columns. It was dismantled in the Middle Ages and its marble decorations were used to build Renaissance Rome.
From the same edge of the hill there is a beautiful view of the huge grassy field of the stadium , where crowds of spectators watched the chariot races from rows of marble seats.
Circus Maximus Many temples were also built on the Palatine. Although today only ruins remain of them (Victoria, Apollo) - in the 15-18 centuries the temples were stolen for building materials. The temple of Apollo contained books of Sibylline prophecy, placed there by Augustus. These books were in golden chests hidden under the pedestal of the statue of Apollo. And, over time, churches and basilicas appeared on the hill.
In November 2007, a team of Italian archaeologists led by Irene Jacopi and Andrea Carandini announced the discovery. A medium-sized grotto was discovered under the “house of Livia.” Its domed ceiling is decorated with multi-colored mosaics of smalt, pumice and seashells, with an image of a white eagle in the center. The researchers announced with great fanfare that they had found the legendary Lupercal - a sanctuary dedicated to Romulus, Remus and the she-wolf who suckled them. Our contemporary has not yet set foot inside the grotto - it is filled with construction debris dating back two thousand years and is in danger of collapsing. Nevertheless, photographs appeared taken using a special camera probe.
Lupercal You can get to the Palatine after visiting. A ticket to the Roman Forum costs 12 euros and also includes a visit to the Palatine Hill. So, once in Rome, you don’t have to stand in a two-hour queue at the Colosseum ticket office, but just walk 100 meters to the side and buy the same ticket at the Forum ticket office. The ticket is valid for two days from the date of visiting any of the three attractions. Persons under 18 years of age have free admission.
When we were told about the Roman Forum at school, I imagined a large and beautiful square with an elevation for the speaker, but in reality everything turned out to be completely different. The Roman Forum is already several centuries old and it is quite natural that various temples and public buildings were erected in its place many times in ancient times. Those. his appearance was constantly changing. Then many buildings collapsed or were stolen for building materials, and today we can only see the ruins of bygone eras.
But these ruins amaze the imagination with their size. Some structures are simply huge; one wonders how the ancients managed to build such grandiose buildings without technical means. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are one of the most famous and most visited archaeological parks in the world.
If you don’t really like walking among ruins, you can simply stroll along Via Imperiale; this street offers excellent views of the archaeological zone. From the Capitoline Hill you can view the entire Roman Forum; only the Palatine with the ruins of palaces belonging to the emperors and aristocrats of Ancient Rome will remain out of sight. It's absolutely free and available to everyone.
Entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine costs 12 € and also includes a visit to the Colosseum arena. I wrote more about tickets, methods of purchasing them, available videos and audio guides in a previous article.
In this article I will make an easy overview of the forum buildings to make it easier for you to decide whether you want to explore it or not.
Roman Forum or Forum Romanum
Looking around the Forum, you can see for yourself that Christianity gradually grew out of paganism. Many temples of ancient deities became churches in the Christian era. There was even a church of St. Bacchus and St. Sergius at the Forum; now all that remains of it is a mention in Wikipedia. The ancient Saturnalia was transformed into the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year. In the Roman Forum, the columns of the Temple of Venus the Progenitor, the patroness of the hearth and motherhood, are still preserved. As a result of evolution, the cult of Venus was reborn into the cult of the Virgin Mary. And so on and so forth.
Some buildings of the Roman Forum can be seen from the walls of the Colosseum. Like, for example, the ruins of the Temple of Venus and Roma. At least half of this ancient temple was part of the Church of Santa Francesca Romana.
Temple of Venus and Roma, view from the walls of the Colosseum
In the photo below you can see the process of restoration of ancient columns. They are being restored from the rubble, complementing the unpreserved areas with inserts of modern concrete. The Palantine is already visible behind the columns.
Ancient columns and Chinese tourists taking pictures of the Colosseum But I invite you to first go under the Arch of Titus. There are three triumphal arches in total in the Roman Forum. I showed you the first one in the article about the Colosseum - this is the Arch of Constantine, the second is the Arch of Titus and the third will be the Arch of Septimius Severus. The latter is located in the area of the Forum farthest from the entrance.
They say groups from Israel still bypass the Arch of Titus. The Jews have an ancient superstition: passing under the Arch of Titus means bad luck.
Triumphal Arch Titus, erected in honor of the capture of Jerusalem in 70 AD 
Triumphal Arch of Titus, fragment with menorah It is best to view the Roman Forum from the Palatine Hill, for great things can be seen from afar. The Basilica of Maxentius was built already during the time of Constantine the Great, the one who made Christianity the state religion, but it was still an ancient temple. This is the largest structure in the Forum.
The Temple of the Divine Romulus is now better known as the Basilica of Cosmas and Damian. Initially, the temple was built in memory of his son, who received the name at the moment of an attack of love for the past that suddenly happened to his father, Emperor Maxentius. There is no entrance to the basilica from the Forum. The entrance from Via Imperiale is now open. The basilica is decorated with early Christian mosaics with sheep. We looked at mosaics in this style in 2014. Also worthy of attention is the pretty atrium and the huge scene of the Nativity of Christ.
View of the Roman Forum from Palatine Hill The House of the Vestals served as a prototype for a Christian convent. IN different times 4 or 6 or 7 Vestals served in the temple. Becoming a Vestal Virgin was a very honorable mission. Usually girls from noble families applied for this position. The applicant had to be older than 6 years old, but younger than 10. She took a vow of chastity and was obliged to serve in the temple for 30 years; after the end of the service, the Vestal Virgin could leave the temple, get married and have children, but most of them remained until her death.
Ruins of the Temple of the Vestals The mother of the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, Rhea Silvia, was also a Vestal Virgin. She claimed that the father of the twins was the god Mars himself.
There are several sculptures installed near the house of the Vestals. Most of them are without heads or other body parts.
Statue of the Vestal Virgin in the Roman Forum In the foreground of the next photo you can see the surviving colonnade of the Temple of Saturn.
View of the Roman Forum from Capitoline Hill The triumphal arch of Septimius Severus is located almost right next to the Capitoline Hill. But you can only get to it by leaving the archaeological zone, through the exit near the Colosseum itself.
Septimius Severus became famous for his successful military campaigns in Parthia and less successful ones in Scotland.
Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus At the very exit from the Forum there is an ascent to the Palatine Hill.
All that we can now see there is the result of excavations carried out in the 19th century.
In ancient times, imperial palaces were located on Palantine, stunning contemporaries with their splendor. The Caesars lived there and the luxury of their homes increased as the Empire strengthened, and there were no more beautiful palaces in the world. From there they ruled their rich possessions, here they lived, surrounded by flatterers and slaves, here they often died the most miserable death - at the hands of a hired killer.
In total, the ruins of several palaces remained on Palantine. One of them is the Flavian house. It was built by Domitian Flavius, the Roman Emperor of 81-96. His father, Vespasian, had just begun building the famous Colosseum.
We saw the same wavy floors in the Cathedral of San Marco in Venice. Or rather, we felt them there with our feet; it was not possible to see them because of the crowds of people. But on Palantine, look at your health - there are very few people.
Floors of the Flavian house Judging by the size of the foundations, the palace was very large. But unfortunately there is almost nothing left of it. No gold and silver roofs, no marble columns. Everything turned to dust and decay.
Ruins of the Flavian House I was especially struck by the depth of some of the excavations. In the photograph below, one of the halls of the Flavian Palace, completely gone underground - looks like three Khrushchev floors down.
House of Flavians Next to the Flavian Palace stands the Stadium of Domitian, or rather what remains of it. It is believed that the stadium was used as a hippodrome and horse races were held there. The Romans were very fond of all kinds of competitions. At the foot of the Palatine Hill in those days there was the Great Circus or Circus Maximus, chariot races were held there, only a large clearing remained from the Great Circus, nothing has been preserved. And Domitian's Stadium is much better preserved, although it is much smaller in size than the Circus Maximus.
Stadium of Domitian 
Supposedly this was the emperor's rostrum. It is curious that the Augustan Palace was also built under Domitian. It’s just that the Flavian Palace was used for official events, and the Augustan Palace for relaxation in a close family circle.
August Palace There are almost no art objects in the ruins of the Palatine. Everything that was found during the excavations is now exhibited in the museums of Rome. There is just a little bit of fresh air left. Below is almost everything I noticed.
Griffins 
Ancient floors 
Panel drawing In the photo below there is already an object related to the Farnese Gardens on the Palatine. This is a much later construction. The Nymphenium was erected by order of Alessandro Farnese, who later became Pope Paul III. The Farnese Gardens were laid out on the ruins of Tiberius's palace. The Nymphenium was an artificial grotto fountain decorated with statues of satyrs holding mirrors. What surprises me most about this is that the order to install the satyr statues was given by a Catholic bishop and the future Pope. In Russia, I cannot imagine a similar situation.
Nymphaeum of Mirrors Our genuine joy was caused by the meeting with tangerine and lemon trees. We northern people have never seen tangerines growing on the street. Everyone warned us that these tangerines are almost inedible, but we checked it anyway personal experience. Wild tangerines are very sour, more sour than lemons; just like our apples, they fall from the trees and begin to rot. At the level of human growth, everything was cut short, apparently we are not the only ones.
Collecting wild tangerines on the Palatine 
View from the Palatine Hill to the roofs of Rome with gardens
Trajan's Forum is located on the other side of Via Imperiale. Those. you need to leave the toll zone and walk a little forward to the monument to Victor Emmanuel II. On the way you will be able to explore Trajan's Forum, it is absolutely free.
Emperor Trajan believed that the old forum had become cramped and decided to build a new one worthy of its great name. Each emperor considered himself almost a god or descended from the gods. The Roman Empire received funds for such a grandiose construction after the conquest of Dacia. In the photo below you can also see another part of the exhibition “Skeletons of Horses” by contemporary Mexican sculptor Gustavo Aceves.
Trajan's Column frustrates historians with its complete lack of dates and inscriptions. In fact, these bas-reliefs describe the conquest of Dacia. The column is hollow inside, and there is even a staircase leading to the platform above. The top of the column is decorated with a statue of St. Peter, but it was not always there. At first, the top of the column was decorated with an imperial eagle, then with a statue of Emperor Troyan, and only in 1588 was the emperor finished off and his statue was replaced with a statue of the Saint.
Next to Trajan's Column there are two churches very similar to each other. And in front of them in December 2016, scammers were on duty. They first ask you to sign your name against drugs, and then demand money for using a pen and paper. We didn’t get caught up in this story, but we watched how they tried to divorce one couple. Be careful not to fall for the bait of such people.
Well, a little Roman flavor at the end of my story. Which tourist town does it do without mass entertainers? Naturally, they only want a few coins, but unlike scammers, they humbly ask, and do not brazenly extort.
The production of paintings is widespread in Rome. Right in front of the respectable public, this guy, deftly changing stencils and cans of paint in his hands, literally in a few minutes paints another picture with the Colosseum and the Moon. The only downside to this show is the strong paint smell.
Making paintings using stencils That’s actually all I wanted to tell you about the Roman Forum, the Palatine and the unique Roman flavor with light elements of fraud. Do you like walking among ruins? Every stone there breathes the history of bygone centuries.
In the next article I will tell you, and then I will continue my Roman sketches - another monument of antiquity that raises doubts about its age.
The Palatine Hill is one of the seven hills of the Italian capital, the oldest part of the city and the place where it, in fact, was founded. The name comes from the Latin word "palus", which literally means "swamp". It rises forty meters and was once home to the ruling elite. Now the Palatine is a huge museum under open air. Not visiting it means not feeling the spirit of the Eternal City.
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Archaeological excavations indicate that the first settlements on the Palatine arose in the thirteenth century BC. Historians are inclined to believe that local shepherds grazed cattle on the hill for a long time. That’s where the name comes from, since the goddess Pales was their patroness, and in her honor the shepherds made sacrifices.
According to the mythology of the ancient Romans, it was on the Palatine Hill that there was a cave called “Lupercal”, where the she-wolf brought two twin brothers Romulus and Remus. While they were babies, the animal fed them, and after that the brothers were found by the shepherd Faustulus. By that time, fate had treated him and his wife cruelly - Akka lost her child. In order to give the newborns shelter and numb the pain of loss, the husband and wife took the twins for themselves.
When the brothers got older, they decided to found a city, but they argued long and bitterly about where to start. During their quarrel, Romulus killed Remus, and later, repenting, founded Rome on the Palatine Hill, proclaiming himself its king. He ordered to surround the hill with a wall in order to protect his patrimony. Subsequently, the hill was recognized by the Romans as the most iconic and prestigious place in the city.
The Italian rich dreamed of living in its vicinity, but only the royal nobility could afford this. Many buildings on the Palatine Hill were destroyed during the Gothic invasion. Only in the seventeenth century, representatives of the noble Farnese family decided to restore part of the buildings.
In addition, there are several well-known facts from history and legends regarding the Palatine Hill:
- According to legend, in a cave on the Palatine Hill lived a fire-breathing giant, Casus, who terrorized the inhabitants of the neighboring Aventine Hill until Hercules defeated him.
- Emperor Augustus not only lived happily with his wife Livia on the Palatine Hill, but was born on it
- As a result of a palace coup, Emperor Caligula was killed in a tunnel under the Palatine Palace. At the age of twenty-eight, he was stabbed to death by the conspirators, who inflicted more than thirty stab wounds on him.
- The English word "palace", the Italian "palazzo" and the French "palais" all owe their origins to the Palatine Hill
Archaeological excavations on the hill began in the eighteenth century and continue to this day.
Description
Nowadays, the Palatine Hill is a popular tourist site, the custodian of the cultural and historical heritage of the Roman Empire. Here you can see the ruins of the Flavian Palace and the Dominican Stadium, as well as the legendary hut of Romulus. The houses of Augustus and Livia have recently been opened to visitors, where you can admire beautiful ancient Roman frescoes.
Without visiting the Palatine Hill, the history of Rome cannot be understood. In addition, the hill itself is something of a green haven. Wild flowers grow among ancient ruins, and at any time, a fluffy rabbit will run nearby. This perfect place for a picnic, because you can sit in the shade of the plants of the Farnese gardens. Even at the height of the tourist season, there are no suffocating crowds or human hubbub. Walking around it from all sides, you can easily see other outstanding sights of the Italian capital. For example, the famous Colosseum, Aventine Hill or Circus Maximus.
Attractions
Without a suitable guide at hand, the ruins of the Palatine are not so easy to understand. Some places even look like a pile of bricks, but there are also buildings that have survived to this day in surprisingly good condition.
- Sant'Anastasia
Titular church, built at the turn of the third and fourth centuries. It is possible that a Roman woman named Anastasia was involved in the construction, but this information is not accurate. What is known for sure is that the patron saint of the basilica is Saint Anastasia the Martyr of Sirmium.
- Antiquarium Museum
The small two-story museum contains ancient Roman sculptures and bas-reliefs, many of which have miraculously survived since the founding of the city. The collection is replenished annually.
- Dominicana Stadium
An impressive structure, which, according to some archaeologists and historians, could be the emperor's private garden.
- House of Libya
A small antique building, which most likely was the property of the wife of Emperor Augustus, Livia. The house was discovered at the end of the 19th century, and the name of the owner was established thanks to the engraving on the pipes. The condition of the building indicated that it was erected in the first century BC.
- Farnese Gardens
A picturesque place at the foot of the hill. Thanks to the natural source of water, plants are especially comfortable here. Visitors to the gardens will be greeted by a riot of colors and aromas of roses, daffodils and other beautiful flowers.
Palaces
The Palatine Hill attracted the ruling nobility for many reasons: rich mythological heritage, central location, stunning views The eternal City, fresh air and cool winds in the summer heat. It is not surprising that emperors erected palaces in such a wonderful place in order to once again emphasize their power in the eyes of ordinary citizens. Now tourists can visit the following buildings of the rulers:
- House of Augustus
It was built back in the thirty-sixth year BC, nine years before Augustus was proclaimed emperor. It is curious that the ruler’s personal rooms are small in size and even modest, while the guest part of the house is distinguished by spacious rooms with high ceilings. The palace itself was built of marble, and next to it was the majestic temple of Apollo.
- Palace of Tiberius
Unfortunately, the building has not survived to this day, but tourists can still visit what remains of it. It is located in the northwestern part of the hill, next to the Farnese Gardens.
- Flavian Palace
It was built during the reign of Emperor Dominician in 92 AD. This impressive building looks especially good from the Circus Maximus. It is known that inside the palace at one time there were large halls, in one of which trials were held, and in the other - imperial receptions. Behind the throne room there was a small room that served as a sanctuary for the guardian gods of the ruling family.
Where is it and how to get there
The Palatine Hill is the heart of Rome and is located near the equally famous Colosseum. Hit both historical monument, as well as the Roman Forum, you can use a single ticket costing 12 euros. The surest way to get to your destination is by metro (Colosseo station, line B). You can also use buses number 75 and 87. If you decide to take a taxi, keep in mind that on Saturdays and Sundays the central streets are filled with cars, and it may be easier and more enjoyable to walk.
The Palatine is the central of the seven main hills of Rome, 40 m high, one of the most anciently inhabited places in Rome. According to legend, ancient Rome arose here: Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf and raised by Faustulus on the Palatine, and here Romulus founded the city. The name Palatium is associated with the name of the goddess Pales, guardian of livestock. Obviously, the Palatine Hill originally served as a pasture for cattle, and when the Italians had the first religious ideas and the cult of the goddess Pales arose, the Palatine became the religious center of the shepherds who performed sacrifices here. Here, among other things, there was a sacred cave of the she-wolf - Lupercal - with a spring and a fig tree, under which, according to legend, a basket with twin babies Romulus and Remus was found. The great antiquity of the hill is proven by numerous archaeological finds: traces of the first settlement on the Palatine date back to about 1000 BC.
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As the city expanded, the Palatine was also developed: by the end of the republic, mainly the rich and aristocrats of Rome lived here.
2. Palatine Hill at the end of the Republican period (II-I centuries BC) 
As the Palatine was built, a complex of palaces, temples, fountains and other structures was formed.
3. Palatine Hill in the 2nd century. AD 
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5. View of the Palatine from the Circus Maximus. 
You can get to the Palatine either from the Roman Forum (the road starts from the Arch of Titus) or from Via di San Gregorio, where there is a separate entrance. We went with the first option.
6. Road to the Hill 
Nero's foundations(Neronian foundations)
The concrete foundations that extend from the Arch of Titus probably refer to the huge portico, which, according to ancient traditions, was built by Nero as the vestibule of his Domus Aurea. The portico was about 300 meters long and stretched from the Roman Forum to the Temple of Venus and Roma.
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Temple of Jupiter Strator
The concrete foundation, partially collapsed due to the presence of large underground cavities, stands in a large open area that is now used as a garden. In ancient times it was the area of the Palatine district mentioned by ancient authors. This must have been the heart of the Palatine, from where both the imperial palaces and the facades of the house of Augustus and the house of Tiberius were visible. The foundation probably belonged to a temple, possibly dedicated to Jupiter Strator.
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The Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino is a small 17th century church in Rome, built on the Palatine hill. This is a Franciscan monastery church built by Cardinal Francesco on the ruins of an ancient cistern from the Roman period.
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August Palace
Augustan Palace - antique palace complex, built under Domitian at the end of the 1st century. AD The imperial palace complex included the palace itself, which was used as the personal residence of the emperors, and the Flavian palace as an official building. The Augustan Palace was a two-story building with a large courtyard and garden. The palace, located at the southern end of the hill, overlooked the Circus Maximus, and the other side faced the forum.
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Flavian Palace
The Flavian Palace is an ancient palace complex of the Roman emperors, built by the Flavian emperor Domitian after the devastating fire of 80, in which the former imperial palaces Domus Transitoria of Nero and Domus Tiberiana burned down. Construction was completed in 92 AD.
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The Domitian Palace complex included the Augustan and Flavian palaces, where official receptions and ceremonies were held, and the Domitian Stadium. The palace had several large halls - a three-nave basilica where court hearings were held, Aula Regia and a lararium.
18. Scheme of the August Palace. E: entrata principale; L: Lararium; A: Aula Regia; B: Basilica; Po: portico; P1: peristilio; C: Cenatio; P2: secondo peristilio; P3: terzo peristilio; Co: cortile; Ex: grande esedra; S: Stadium; Tr: Tribuna dello Stadium 
Aula Regia
Aula Regia is a marble throne room measuring 30x39 meters, in the niches of which there were statues; in the apse there was the throne of the emperor. In a small room next to the throne room there was a lararium - a sanctuary for the family gods.
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Peristyle
At the center of the "public" sector of the palace was a peristyle with pink marble columns and white marble capitals. On the sides there were living and dining rooms, some of which have a characteristic opening in the walls for placing couches (triclinium). The courtyard contained a swimming pool with an octagonal base, possibly containing a sculpted fountain, surrounded by a labyrinth of canals. We know that Domitian enjoyed walks along the porticoes of the palace and that, fearing an ambush, he lined the walls with panels of precious marble, which, like a mirror, reflected what was happening behind him.
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Palatine Museum
The Palatine Museum was opened in the building of a former monastery in the 30s of the last century. The building was previously a villa, restored in the 19th century by Scotsman Charles Mills. He used the villa as his residence, where lavish receptions were held, which attracted a noble audience. The museum is a collection of artifacts found during excavations carried out on the Palatine Hill in Rome. The exhibition includes objects dating back to the 1st-4th centuries, as well as artifacts that belonged to different periods of its settlement, starting from the tenth century BC.
The first floor, through an exhibition using multimedia technologies, conveys the history of the hill. Here you can get acquainted with the archaic and republican era of the city and its architecture.
On the second floor there are many antique sculptures, depicting mythical animals and heroes, goddesses and gods. Here you can also see fragments of ancient multi-colored frescoes found in the vicinity of the Palatine.
22. Statue of Aphrodite. Adriatic period (117-138 AD). Copy from the 5th century original. BC. 
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24. Statue of the Muse 
25. Statue of Hermes 
26. Statue of the Muse Palatine 
27. River Statue. 192-235 AD Found in the central exedra of Septizodium. 
28. Statue of a nymph sitting on a rock. 69-96 AD Copy from ancient greek sculpture II-I century BC. 
29. Statue of the goddess Hera. 14-68 AD Copy from the 5th century original. BC. 
30. Statue of Hermes 
31. Aphrodite Statue 
The museum has many other exhibits on display.
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Nymphaeum
Nymphaeum - a small sanctuary dedicated to water nymphs, usually built near a water source or reservoir. It is a semicircular building with columns, sometimes several floors high. During the Hellenistic period and Ancient Rome, nymphaeums began to be called structures that decorated water sources, as well as city buildings with reservoirs.
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Courtyard of Augustus's house
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Stadium
The stadium is an important part of the Flavian Palace, which was never given that name in ancient sources. In fact, it was a garden, or rather a hippodrome, as later authors described it. Hippodromes, originally places for horse exercise, became elongated rectangular spaces in Rome with paths and decorated with flowers. Originating from Greek gymnasiums, these were luxurious garden plots located in important villas. The Palatine stadium (160x48 m) had a rounded southern end and was surrounded by a portico supported by marble columns. The central part consisted of a wide curved alley for walking, on a stretcher or even in a stroller.
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Imperial exedra(Exedra Hadrian)
On the eastern side of the stadium is a large exedra, luxuriously decorated with sculptures and two semicircular fountains at either end. The exedra offers views of the garden below.
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Another nymphaeum has been set up near the stadium.
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The Palatine Hill offers a fun view of the Colosseum
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I am forced to admit that I did not navigate the area in the best way, and as a result, some objects of the Palatine were not examined and photographed.
Remains of 3 huts, probably dating from the Early Iron Age. They were discovered during excavations in 1948. They can be associated with the founding of the city of Romulus.
Temple of Victory
The Temple of Victory is traditionally attributed to Evander, but was in fact built by the consul Lucius Postumius from fines levied during his aedileship and consecrated by him on 1 August 294 BC. This temple was used to house the sacred stone of Cybele between 204 BC. and 191 BC Cato the Elder subsequently built the Temple of the Virgin Victoria next to the Temple of Victory.
Lupercal. Remains of the temple where the ancient Romans worshiped the god Lupercus. It was restored under Octavian Augustus as a mythical cave where a she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus. Found by Italian archaeologists in 2007.
Palace of Tiberius
The House of Tiberius, the first of the imperial palaces, was built on the northwestern sector of the hill according to a single design. The structure occupied an area of 120×150 m; Caligula later extended it to the Forum. Unfortunately, only the remains of the walls that supported the upper floors have survived to this day. However, it is not difficult to imagine the grandeur of the building, since even the surviving ruins reach a height of 20 m. After the fires of 64 and 80. AD Domitian rebuilt the building, adding a monumental façade facing the forum, which became an appendage of the palace. After the looting, the House of Tiberius was destroyed, and during the Middle Ages the Farnese Park was laid out on this site.
Farnese Gardens
In the middle of the 16th century. Cardinal Alessandro Farnese acquires a plot of land on the Palatine Hill, on which the remains of Tiberius' palace were located. At the order of the cardinal, the ruins of the palace were covered with earth and on this basis the Italian architect Vignola created a garden with beautiful terraces descending to the Roman Forum.
65. This is what the Farnese gardens looked like in an ancient engraving 
66. This is what the Farnese gardens look like now. 
67. Observation deck, from where you can see the entire Roman Forum.
Finally, I strongly recommend watching a unique video where 3D models of buildings were “put on” for live filming, as they looked many centuries ago.
| Entrance to the Palatine | 41.8878360N 12.4897841E |
| Nero's foundations | 41.8901622N 12.4878395E |
| Temple of Jupiter Strator | 41.8897608N 12.4875230E |
| Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino | 41.8888363N 12.4884591E |
| August Palace | 41.8880257N 12.4869651E |
| Flavian Palace | 41.8885249N 12.4861979E |
| Aula Regia | 41.8890839N 12.4869919E |
| Peristyle | 41.8887365N 12.4866003E |
| Palatine Museum | 41.8882733N 12.4866378E |
| Nymphaeum | 41.8886047N 12.4859565E |
| Courtyard of Augustus's house | 41.8877381N 12.4865574E |
| Stadium | 41.8876822N 12.4875712E |
| Imperial exedra | 41.8874306N 12.4878073E |
| Nymphaeum | 41.8883412N 12.4884027E |
| Remains of 3 huts | 41.8892477N 12.4848247E |
| Temple of Victory | 41.8893855N 12.4852484E |
| Lupercal | 41.8882653N 12.4846771E |
| Palace of Tiberius | 41.8901502N 12.4862087E |
| Farnese Gardens | 41.8904577N 12.4866647E |
| Observation deck | 41.8910128N 12.4863535E |
Hill Palatine (Monte Palatino) - the central and most significant of the 7 hills of Rome. According to legend, confirmed by excavations of the lower part of the hill, dating back to the 8th century BC, Romulus founded the city of Rome on the Palatine Hill (754 - 753 BC). Archaeological sites have confirmed that the hill has been continuously inhabited since the 13th century BC. Due to its historical and religious value, the Palatine has been the seat of the highest aristocracy of Rome since the 6th century BC. Among the most significant ruins of Republican houses are Aula Isiaca and “Casa dei Grifi”, decorated with frescoes and painted walls.
The appearance of the Palatine Hill underwent dramatic changes under the Emperor Octavian Augustus, who was born on this hill and chose it as his residence. All subsequent Roman emperors also began to live on the Palatine. Each of them built his own palace here: on the Palatine Hill you can see the ruins of the palace of Tiberius (Domus Tiberiana), Nero (Domus Transitoria and part of the Domus Aurea), Flavius (Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana) and Septimius Severius (Domus Severiana). Towards the end of the third imperial era, the Palatine Hill was built up with a large single “reggia” (royal palace), called Palatium - after the hill. the name of the hill. Then the baths were built for the first time, turning it into a luxurious imperial palace.
In the 16th century, on the initiative of Cardinal Alessandro Franese, a large villa (Orti Farnesiani) was built on the site of the Domus Tiberiana. The villa was later almost completely destroyed.
Systematic excavations began on the hill already in the 18th century and continue to this day. Some of the finds are now on display in the Palatine Museum (Museo Palatino).
Post Palatine:
Address:
- Via della Salara Vecchia, 5/6
- Via di San Gregorio, 30
- Piazza di Santa Maria Nova, 53
- Piazza del Colosseo
Tickets to Palatine:
- Valid in the Colosseum + Roman Forum and Palatine (valid for 2 days).
- Please note: The Roman Forum and the Palatine are located in the same archaeological area, so if you use a ticket or Roma Pass to enter the park, you will not be able to enter for the second time.
- Tickets can be purchased online to avoid huge queues.
- Full tariff: € 12.00
- Concessional tariff: € 7.50 (EU residents 18 - 25 years old)
- Online tickets: additional booking fee € 2.00. Due to security measures, you need to be 30 minutes before the selected time in order to go through security (checking bags, etc.)
- Under 18 years old - free
- Free entry on the 1st Sunday of every month(ticket reservations are not possible).
- Roma Archeologia Card: adults: € 23,00 preferential: € 13.00 - valid 7 days
Can be purchased at the box office and used in the following museums: , Palatine and , Villa dei Quintili, Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella, Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, . With an ARCHAEOLOGIA CARD ticket you can visit each of these museums once within 7 days. - With the Roma Pass you can visit the Palatine and the Roman Forum for free.
Palatine opening hours:
- daily:
08.30 - 16.30 from the last Sunday in October until February 15
08.30 - 17.00 from February 16 to March 15
08.30 - 17.30 from March 16 to last Sunday. Martha
08.30 - 19.15 from last Sunday. March until August 31
08.30 - 19.00 from 1 to 30 September
08.30 - 18.30 from October 1 to last Sunday. October - June 2: 13.30 - 19.15;
- Last entry: 1 hour before closing
- Closed: January 1, December 25
- Casa delle Vestali, Tempio di Venere e Roma and Museo del Palatino: last entry 30 minutes before closing
Antique villas of the Palatine
(Casa di Libya, I century BC BC) is one of the most fully preserved buildings on the Palatine. The wife of Emperor Augustus lived here. The walls of Livia's house are decorated with frescoes depicting mythological scenes and flowering landscapes, and the courtyard is decorated with mosaics.
House of Augustus
Located opposite Libya's house August's house(Casa d’ Augusto, I century BC BC), where you can also see perfectly preserved frescoes.
Below on the slope of the hill fragments have been preserved Temple of Cybele(Tempio di Cibele, OK. 20 BC e.). Here the Phrygian goddess was worshiped under the name Magna Mater, Great Mother. Going even lower, you can examine the remains of floor mosaics and wall paintings in the ruins Tiberius's palace (Domus Tiberiana, I century).
Along the palace of Tiberius passes cryptoportico(cryptoportico, “secret passage”) is a long underground gallery built by Emperor Caligula. Here the emperor was killed by a tribune of the Praetorian Guard.
To the east of the cryptoporticus the territory begins Palace Flaviev(Domus Fla via, 92). From the once huge structure, only the foundations and minor fragments have survived, among which the remains of fountains stand out: a brick oval structure and an octagon made of slabs located nearby. The Domus Flavius was officially part of the Augustan palace. Ambassadors were received here and state banquets were held.
Part of Domitian's palace was the Stadium of Domitian. It has not yet been determined whether this stadium was used for horse racing or as a large park.
Palatine Museum
Gray three-story building next to the Flavian Palace - ( Museo Palatino), where antique sculptures found on the Palatine during excavations are exhibited.
- Museo Palatino – Casa di Augusto – Casa di Livia
- Visit only for groups with advance reservation
August Palace
Behind the Palatine Museum are the ruins of the Augustan Palace ( Domus Augustana, 1st century), residences of the emperors, after passing which you can go down to the entrance via di San
Gregorio VII(via San Gregorio Settino) and, going around the hill from the side of the Circus Maximus, look again at the Augustan Palace from piazzale Ugo la Malta(Piazzale Ugo la Malta).