Italy

Palatine Hill

The Palatine is the central of the seven Roman hills. According to legend, it was on it that the she-wolf nurtured Remus and Romulus. Today's Palatine looks like an island of silence in the midst of bustling Rome. This is a huge archaeological reserve.

Remains of the imperial palaces of Palatine from the Circus

How did the name Palatine appear

Palatine (lat. Mons Palatinus, Palatium; Italian. Palatino) - the central of seven Roman hills, 40 m high. According to legend, it was on it that the she-wolf fed Rem and Romulus, here Romulus laid the city. Palatium is a poetic name, but its origin was very prosaic. Pales is the name of the goddess, patroness of cattle. Here for a long time grazed domestic animals. Later, the hill became a place of worship for the goddess Pales, and then it gradually began to be built up. The houses of aristocrats appeared, followed by the imperial palaces. They were erected and rebuilt over 3 centuries.

Palatine Palaces

On the Palatine in ruins lies the whole history of Ancient Rome. The first settlements appeared here in 1000 BC.

Augustus Palace

Palace of Augustus (Domus Augustana)

The first palace was built here by Augustus at the end of the 1st century. n e., who used it as a personal residence. Little remains of the marble Augustus Palace (Domus Augustana): parts of the foundation and gloomy fragments of the outer walls.

House of Libya

House of Libya (Casa di Livia), photo by Carole Raddato

Nearby are the ruins of the House of Libya (Casa di Livia) (end of the 1st century BC) - the wife of Augustus. Here you can distinguish the outlines of several indoor spaces; fragments of murals depicting mythological scenes, candelabra, sphinxes, garlands of flowers and fruits were preserved on the walls (some of the frescoes from the palace were transferred to the Palatine Museum).

Tiberius Palace and Caligula Palace

Tiberius Palace (Domus Tiberiana), photo daryl_mitchell

In the western part of the hill - the ruins of a neat brick building - this is the Palace of Tiberius (Domus Tiberiana) (I-V centuries). It was built by the emperor Tiberius. Under Caligula, the structure was expanded. From the walls of the palace of Caligula there was a bridge to the Capitol. There are a lot of legends about the splendor of the palace, but today it’s just gloomy, though large-scale, ruins above the forum a little north of Domus Tiberiana. In the 16th century, the Farnese Gardens were set up on the site of the ruined imperial palace.

Palace Flavius

Palace of Flavia (Domus Flavia), photo by Cassius Ahenobarbus

Under the emperor Domitian, the magnificent Palace of Flavia (Domus Flavia) appeared in the years 80-92. It housed the basilica, the sanctuary, the hall of Jupiter, the Throne and the column with a fountain. A renaissance pavilion was built over its foundation, and a secret cryptoportic with stucco ceiling was preserved below.

Under Domitian, a huge stadium was created. Once it served as an arena for vivid spectacles, but now it is just a long rectangular wasteland. By the way, the stadium has preserved the imperial box - an arched section of the wall in several tiers.

Septimius Severus Palace

Palace of Septimius Severus (Domus Severiana), photo antmoose

The Palace of Septimius Severus (Domus Severiana) stood in the southeast of the hill. Now in its place are visible high arched galleries. Most of the building is hidden in the ground, and the remains are difficult to imagine the true size. It was the last of the palaces on the Palatine.

Palatine today

Farnese Gardens, photo by Sarah P

After the invasion of the barbarians, Palatine was empty, and the ruins of the magnificent palaces were overgrown with grass and ivy. Its revival began in the 16th century under Pope Paul III Farnese.

Today, at the top of the Tiberius Palace there is an observation deck with views of the Forum and the Colosseum. Inspect everything from above, and then go down for a detailed acquaintance. Here is the Palantine Museum.

Near the ruins of the Augustus Palace in a small Renaissance building is the Antiquarium Museum. There are sculptures found during excavations. At the stadium of Domitian, fragments of ancient statues and modern sculptures are exhibited. Excavations on the hill have been going on since the 18th century.

Today's Palatine looks like an island of silence in the midst of bustling Rome. This is a huge archaeological reserve, where regal pine trees grow, mysterious ruins still stand, and the insoluble puzzles of ancient palaces hidden under the earth are waiting in the wings.

How to get there

To get to the Circus Maximus - this is the Circo Massimo stop, you can use:
by buses: 51, 75, 81, 85, 87, 118, 160 628, 673, No. 2, No. 10, C3;
by trams: 3; eight;
metro line B.

Watch the video: Palatine Hill Walking Tour in 4K (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Italy, Next Article

Stromboli Island - walks into the vent of the volcano
Sicily

Stromboli Island - walks into the vent of the volcano

Stromboli (Stromboli) - a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mar Tirreno), belonging to the group of Aeolian (Aeolian, Isole Eolie) islands north of Sicily (Sicilia), unique in that it contains a volcano that has remained active for 20 thousand years. The island is 12.5 km² in area.
Read More
The best beaches of Sicily
Sicily

The best beaches of Sicily

Although the best beaches of Sicily (Sicilia) are located in the south and southeast of the island, beach holidays of varying degrees of comfort are possible on almost its entire coast. There are coastal areas where it is difficult to get to the water, there are many unequipped beaches, but in general there are plenty of opportunities to find the beach of your dreams.
Read More
What you need to know about Sicily
Sicily

What you need to know about Sicily

Sicily is the largest island of the Mediterranean Sea and at the same time an important part of Italy. Located near the very "toe of the Italian boot", it is washed immediately by three seas - the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian. The island is known for its magnificent nature, contributing to an excellent holiday, as well as ancient monuments of history, occupying a leading position among the attractions of Italy.
Read More
Corleone city - the birthplace of the Italian mafia
Sicily

Corleone city - the birthplace of the Italian mafia

Corleone is a small town with a population of only about 10 thousand people located on the island of Sicily, 30 km from the city of Palermo. This very calm southern city, with the filing of the famous Francis Ford Kopolla, who has filmed the novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, is associated worldwide with the mafia.
Read More