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Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill in Rome

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Just a stone’s throw from the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill is high on the list of the Italian capital’s most emblematic ancient sites. Considered the cradle of Rome, this legendary hill is well worth a visit!

Follow the guide!

💡 The Captain’s tip 💡

Want to know more about the history of Rome? Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the city (in English). It’s up to you to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide!

Are you looking for a hotel in Rome? Be sure to check out the Captain’s article: Where to stay in Rome? Advice & recommendations

Are you planning your stay in Rome? Check out Captain Ulysses’ detailed article on the best things to do in the city: A Guide to Rome

The Palatine Hill in a nutshell

Geography

Situated a stone’s throw from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill is the most central of Rome’s seven hills (the six others being the Aventine Hill, the Caelian Hill, the Capitoline Hill, the Esquiline Hill, the Quirinal Hill and the Viminal Hill).

Culminating about fifty metres/165 ft above sea level, the Palatine Hill has two summits: the Germalus (51 m) and the Palatium (51.2 m).

Legends of the Palatine Hill

According to legend, the she-wolf discovered the twins Romulus and Remus at the foot of the Palatine before taking them in the Lupercal cave (which, by the way, was discovered by archaeologists in 2007).

The image of the she-wolf suckling the twins remains an emblem of the city today. You will find a beautiful statue of the scene in the Capitoline Museums.

When they became adults, the twins decided to found a city, but differed as to where the new city should be located: Romulus wanted to build it on the Palatine Hill while Remus was in favour of founding the city on the Aventine Hill. To decide between them, the brothers turned to the augurs, who designated Romulus as the founder and king of the future city.

Following his sucess, Romulus drew the boundaries of his new city on the ground. ealous, Remus provoked his brother by crossing the newly-drawn boundary. Out of revenge and fear of sharing power, Romulus killed his brother… Rome was born…

Moral of the story: if you like happy endings, forget Roman mythology!

🧐 Fun fact 🧐

In ancient Rome, the image of the she-wolf was often associated with prostitution. A brothel was called a lupanar in Latin. Some scholars therefore suggest that the she-wolf who took in Romulus and Remus was in fact… a prostitute.

Brief history of the Palatine Hill

Legend has it that Rome was founded on the Palatine Hill… and (for once) historians seem to agree!

The Palatine Hill in ancient times

There is every reason to believe that the famous hill was occupied as early as the 10th century BC. Archaeologists have also discovered the remains of huts dating from the 8th century BC and two cisterns dating from the 7th century BC.

During the Roman Republic (510 BC to 27 BC), the Palatine Hill became the ‘posh district’ of ancient Rome. The wealthiest Roman citizens – including Cicero and Mark Antony – had their residences built on the hill.

During the imperial period (from 27 BC onwards), the emperors appropriated the Palatine Hill to build their palaces, such as the Domus Tiberiana (built by Tiberius) or the Domus Augustana (built by Domitian).

According to ancient sources, in the middle of the 4th century AD, the Palatine Hill was home to:

  • 89 domus (≈ mansions)
  • 2600 insulae (smaller accommodations than domus)
  • 48 baths
  • 20 bakeries

… yes, it seems that in the Roman Empire, going to the baths was more important than buying a loaf of bread!

In any case, from the reign of Diocletian onwards, at the end of the 3rd century AD, the Palatine Hill was gradually abandoned by the Roman emperors. Although it continued to be inhabited during the following centuries, it was completely deserted in the 11th century.

🧐 Fun fact 🧐

The word “palace” is derived from the name “Palatine”. The Latin word “Palatium” originally referred to the Palatine Hill, before evolving in the time of Emperor Augustus to mean “imperial palace”.

The Palatine Hill in the Renaissance

For almost 5 centuries, the Palatine Hill fell into oblivion… until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by rich Roman families who decided to develop vineyards and gardens there, like the Barberinis, the Ronconis, the Magnanis or the Farneses.

The latter had vast gardens laid out on the ruins of the Domus Tiberiana. The Farnese Gardens have survived the test of time, and it is possible to visit them today (access included in the ticket for the Palatine Hill).

Palatine Hill

Archaeological excavations

Excavations on the Palatine Hill began in the 18th century, before intensifying in the 19th century, at the request of Napoleon III in particular (the same goes for the Roman Forum).

Excavations continue today with restoration plans and the discovery in 2007 of a cave that some believe to be the Lupercal cave, where the she-wolf once nursed Romulus and Remus.

Visiting the Palatine Hill

The ruins of the Palatine Hill may not be among the most impressive in Rome, The program includes the site is well worth a visit for its exceptional Not bad, right?

Palatine Hill - Rome

The main monuments on the Palatine Hill

The Baths of Septimius Severus

Built during the reign of the emperor Septimius Severus (146 AD – 211 AD), the Baths of Septimius Severus are located on the south side of the Palatine. A few arches have survived the test of time.

The Palace of Domitian

The stadium A few steps from the baths, the stadium is still clearly visible today. Archaeologists are not sure what the Romans used this vast rectangular space of 160 by 50 metres for: a circus for horse races or a pleasure garden?
In any case, some historians suggest that it may have been the stadium where Saint Sebastian died as a martyr.

The Domus Augustana – Adjacent to the stadium, the Domus Augustana is also part of the Palace of Domitian. It might have corresponded to the private apartments of the Emperor within the palace (the public apartments corresponding to the Domus Flavia).
The southern part of the Domus Augustana overlooks the Circus Maximus: the Emperor may have been able to attend the chariot races without even having to leave his palace !

The Domus Flavia – Adjacent to the Domus Augustana, the Domus Flavia housed the public spaces of the palace, where the emperor received his visitors for audiences or receptions.

Palatine Hill - Stadium

The Houses of Livia and Augustus (Villa Livia)

Built in the first half of the 1st century BC, the House of Augustus was the residence of the first of the Roman Emperors (adopted son of Julius Caesar, born Octavian before taking the name of Augustus when he became Emperor).

Augustus’ choice to settle on the Palatine Hill undoubtedly determined its role in future centuries; the Palatine Hill continued to serve as the residence of the Roman emperors for the next three centuries.

Adjacent to the House of Augustus, the House of Livia was an annex serving as a residence for the wife of the emperor. With its beautiful frescoes, it is one of the best preserved monuments on the Palatine Hill. Stunning!

Palatine Hill - House of Livia

The Palatine Museum

The Palatine Museum exhibits a selection of archaeological remains discovered onsite: fragments of frescoes, mosaics, sculptures, ceramics and other ancient objects.

The Farnese Gardens

Created at the request of Cardinal Alexander Farnese on the ruins of the Domus Tiberiana, the Farnese Gardens are the oldest botanical gardens in Europe.

The terraced gardens offer the perfect setting for a delightful walk through rose gardens, umbrella pines and refreshing fountains. A breath of fresh air in the middle of the city!

Palatine Hill - Farnese Gardens

The view of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum

From the heights of Mount Palatine, the view of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum is quite simply stunning. Captain Ulysses warmly recommends taking the time to wander around the site to immerse yourself in ancient Roman history in the shade of the umbrella pines. .

Access

Getting to the Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill is located a stone’s throw from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

The nearest public transport stop is Colosseo station, on line B of the metro. Buses 60, 75, 84, 85, 87, 117, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810 and 850 also stop near the Palazzo.

💡FYI 💡

FYI, unlimited access to public transport is included in the Omnia Card and Roma Pass.

👉 More info: Omnia Card / Roma Pass

Opening hours of the Palatine Hill

The opening hours of the Palatine vary according to the season:

Last Sunday in October – February 158:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
February 16 – March 158:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
March 16 – last Sunday in March8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Last Sunday in March – August 318:30 a.m. – 7:15 p.m.
September 1 – September 30.8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
October 1 – last Saturday in October.8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The ticket office closes one hour before the site closes.

Tickets for the Palatine Hill and guided tour

You can either visit the Palatin Hill:

  • visit the site on your own
  • opt for a guided tour

It all depends on your priorities. If you prefer visiting tourist attractions at your own pace, visiting the site on your own is perhaps your best option.

If you are fond of historical anecdotes, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends a guided tour.

Especially since the guided tours are, from the Captain’s point of view, particularly interesting when it comes to ancient sites where it can be somewhat difficult to imagine what things looked like centuries ago.

Anyway, the Captain can only recommend booking either your entrance ticket or your guided tour in advance.

Admission to the Palatine Hill is combined with tickets for the Roman Forum and the Colosseum: two of the most popular sites in Rome! The queues at the entrance can be dreadfully long.

For your information, the entrance to the Palatine Hill is also included in the Roma Pass.

More info:


👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in Rome!

👉 Looking for tips and recommendations? Here are all the Captain’s suggestions!

🛏️ Accommodation : to book your accommodation in Rome, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Booking:
the best hostels
the best affordable hotels
the best mid-range hotels
the best high-end hotels

🎟️ Activities: as for booking visits and tourist activities, Captain Ulysses recommends three websites: GetYourGuide , Tiqets and Civitatis. Guided tours, cruises, skip-the-line tickets, tourist activities… there’s plenty to choose from!

🎫 Citypass: if you are staying in Rome for several days, it may be worth investing in the Roma Pass or the Omnia Card . As well as entry to some of the capital’s most iconic sites, these passes include access to public transport.

🚐 Transfers: if you want to arrive in Rome serenely, you can book your transfer from the airport to the city centre in advance. A car will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the city. For more information: transfers in Rome.

🚌 Local transport: Rome has a comprehensive public transport system: metro, bus and tram. Access to public transport is included in the Roma Pass and the Omnia Card. If you wish, you can also opt for a hop-on hop-off bus tour which stops at all the top tourist attractions in Rome (audio guide included).

✈️ Flights and trains: to book your flights to Rome, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Skyscanner. You’ll be able to compare countless offers to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possi


Credits
Melissa Delzio | Elan Ruskin | Anthony Majanlahti | Wikimedia | Michael Gaylard

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