The Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill in Rome stands near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. The Palatine is one of the seven hills of Rome, where amid a magnificent garden you can discover the ruins of the ancient palaces of the Roman emperors. The ruins are not particularly impressive and are often hard to make out, but the green setting is enchanting and the view over the city magnificent. Do not miss the House of Livia and Augustus, reopened in 2007, whose frescoes have been restored.
Admission is charged, with a combined ticket for the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. We recommend buying this combined ticket at the Palatine/Forum ticket offices, where there are few people, so that you can then enter the Colosseum very quickly thanks to this ticket, which means you do not have to queue again.
Getting there : Colosseo metro station or many bus lines
Address : Via di San Gregorio, 30, near the Colosseum.
Opening hours : open every day except 1 January and 25 December.
From 1 to 25 March: 9:00 – 17:30
From 26 March to 31 August: 9:00 – 19:15
From 1 September to 30 September: 9:00 – 19:00
From 1 to 28 October: 9:00 – 18:30
From 29 October to 31 December: 9:00 – 16:30
Good Friday: closed (a partial opening is possible in some years; check the official website)
Last entry about one hour before closing.
Ticket prices: Combined ticket for the Palatine and the Colosseum: €16 full price, audioguide €4. Free for under-18s, reduced price of €2 for young people aged 18 to 25 who are citizens of the European Union.
Buying tickets online in advance is strongly recommended if you want to get into the Colosseum: Official ticket office
Official website: Archaeological Park website
The history of the Palatine Hill is very rich and it is regarded as the cradle of Rome.
Indeed, this area was already inhabited in the 10th century BC and it is here that Romulus and Remus are said to have been taken in by the she-wolf.
Romulus, after founding Rome, is said to have settled here with the first inhabitants.
It is on the Palatine Hill that the oldest remains of Rome have been found, the huts of Romulus from the 9th century.
The cave that sheltered Romulus, Remus and the she-wolf was uncovered in 2007. Converted into a place of worship in antiquity, it is superbly decorated but not open to visitors.
The Palatine Hill then became the home of the Roman elite before becoming that of the emperors, who built a succession of palaces that eventually formed a single complex. The word “palace” itself comes from Palatine. At the fall of the empire the area was abandoned before becoming a fortress and then the gardens of the great Roman families, who took the opportunity to plunder the site. The Farnese Gardens are a fine example of these gardens overlooking the Forum.
Visit:
To see the Palatine from the air: Aerial view of the Palatine Hill
After the entrance you follow a path among umbrella pines that leads to the ruins of the Baths of Septimius Severus, of which a few arcades remain, then to the Stadium of Domitian.
The Stadium of Domitian, clearly visible, is circus-shaped, surrounded on all sides by a two-storey portico; it housed the games organised by the emperor Domitian. According to legend, St Sebastian was martyred there.
Further on you pass the Domus Augustana, where you will see the remains of two basins, the second of which, lower down, is itself formed of 4 semicircular basins.
This palace housed the private residence of the emperors.
From the terrace you will have a very fine view of the few remains of the Circus Maximus with its characteristic shape.
Adjoining the Domus Augustana, in a former monastery, you can visit the antiquarium, which displays fine archaeological pieces found on the site.
Continuing on your way, you will reach the Domus Flavia, also built by the emperor Domitian of the Flavian dynasty. On the ground, the remains of an octagonal fountain mark the centre of the palace. It was in this palace that imperial audiences were held in the throne room.
Further on you will arrive at the House of Livia and Augustus. Well preserved, you will discover there very fine frescoes of the 2nd century that formed part of the decoration of these private apartments.
You can then reach the Farnese Gardens, laid out in the 16th century by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese on the site of the ruins of the Palace of Tiberius, which he had bought.
These gardens were the setting for grandiose festivities amid rare plants and fountains.
The view of the Forum, the Colosseum and the city is very fine. You can end the visit by joining the Forum.
