Palatine Hill

Located 40 meters above the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill is the most central of the seven hills of Rome and forms one of the oldest parts of the city. The Palatine Hill is considered to be the birthplace of the Italian capital and is believed to have been inhabited since the year 1000 B.C.

During the Republican Period, Roman citizens belonging to the upper class settled in the Palatine Hill and built sumptuous palaces, of which important traces are still preserved.

According to the legend

Domus Flavia

Roman mythology talks of the cave that was inhabited by Luperca, the she-wolf that took care of Romulus and Remus, which is located in the Palatine Hill. According to the legend, when the brothers grew up they decided to form a city on the banks of the river, but when they could not come to an agreement in some points of the decision, Romulus killed Remus and founded the city of Rome.

What to see in the Palatine Hill

In the Palatine Hill you can see hundreds of ruins of the imposing buildings that were created for high Roman society in ancient times. Although the whole scene is impressive, these are some of the points that deserve special attention:

Hippodrome of Domitian

House of Augustus

Domus Flavia: The splendid palace Domus Flavia was built in the year 81 B.C. by order of the Emperor Domitian as a public and official residence. There are still some parts of the extensive construction that can be seen.
House of Livia: This modestly-built house which was built in the 1st century B.C. is one of the best preserved buildings in the Palatine Hill. It is still possible to glimpse the remains of the mosaics and frescoes that at one time cheered up the ceilings and walls.
House of Augustus: Built as the private residence of Octavian Augustus, the house built on two levels still has a large part of the valued and colourful frescoes that decorated its walls.
Farnese Gardens: Designed in the middle of the 16th century on the ruins of the Palace of Tiberius, the Farnese Gardens were one of the first botanical gardens to be created in Europe.
Hippodrome of Domitian: Given the appearance of a Roman circus, it is not known for certain if the stadium was created for holding races, or just to be used as a garden.
Palatine museum: In this small museum the different discoveries made during excavations carried out on the Palatine Hill are exhibited. It contains sculptures, frescoes, mosaics and other objects belonging to the golden age of the Palatine Hill.

From the Palatine Hill you can get the best views of the Roman Forum from above.

A walk in Ancient Rome

The Palatine Hill is a very pleasant place for a quiet stroll under the shadow of the trees while passing many of the preserved corners of ancient Rome.

It is worth dedicating half a day to visit it, since the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill each cover a very large space that should be very interesting.

Location

Via di San Gregorio, 30.

Hours

Open Daily, 8.30am to 7pm.

Admission

Ticket is valid for the Colosseum, the Palatine Museum and the Roman Forum:
Adults: €12.
European Union members between 18 and 24 years old: €7.50.
Persons under 18 and over 65 years old from the European Union: Free entrance.

Transport

Metro: Colosseo, line B (blue).
Autobús: lines 60, 75, 84, 85, 87, 117, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810, and 850.

Map

Closest attractions

Circus Maximus (0.17 miles)
Arch of Constantine (0.21 miles)
Roman Forum (0.26 miles)
Colosseum (0.3 miles)
Santa María in Cosmedin (0.31 miles)

Hotels nearby

Hotel Richmond
(0.37 miles)
Kolbe Hotel Rome
(0.23 miles)
Palazzo Al Velabro
(0.27 miles)
Hotel De Rome
(0.35 miles)