Palatine Hill

Rising above the Roman Forum in the heart of the city, Palatine Hill is considered the birthplace of Rome itself. According to legend, it is where Romulus founded the city in 753 BC, and centuries later it became the most exclusive address in the ancient world, home to emperors from Augustus to Domitian.

Today the hill is a sprawling archaeological park where visitors can wander among the ruins of imperial palaces, shaded gardens, and museum collections, all while taking in some of the best panoramic views in Rome.

Origins and Legend

Archaeological evidence shows the Palatine was inhabited as early as the 10th century BC, with Bronze Age huts uncovered dating to the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Roman mythology places the hill at the very start of the city's story: the twins Romulus and Remus were said to have been nursed by a she-wolf in a cave on its slopes before Romulus founded Rome there.

Republic to Empire

By the 1st century BC, the Palatine had become one of the most fashionable residential areas in Rome, home to figures such as Cicero and Mark Antony. Under Augustus and the emperors who followed, the hill was transformed into an imperial domain, filled with grand palaces including the Domus Flavia, Domus Augustana, and Domus Tiberiana.

Decline and Rediscovery

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the hill gradually fell into ruin and was largely abandoned. Interest returned during the Renaissance, when Cardinal Alessandro Farnese acquired part of the site and laid out ornate gardens over the buried ruins, an area still visible today as the Farnese Gardens.

Palatine Hill sits within the Historic Centre of Rome, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. It is managed jointly with the neighboring Roman Forum and Colosseum as part of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, reflecting its status as one of the most significant archaeological zones in the world.

The Imperial Palaces

The Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana formed the sprawling official and private residences of Emperor Domitian, complete with reception halls, courtyards, and a sunken garden stadium. Nearby, the Domus Tiberiana was Rome's first purpose-built imperial palace, begun under Tiberius.

The Farnese Gardens

Laid out in the 16th century over the ruins of Tiberius's palace, the Farnese Gardens are considered among the earliest private botanical gardens in Europe. Terraces, pavilions, and shaded pathways make this one of the most peaceful corners of the hill.

The Palatine Museum

Housed in a former convent, the Palatine Museum displays sculpture, frescoes, and everyday objects recovered from excavations on the hill, offering context for the ruins scattered outside.

Several individual sites within the Palatine complex draw particular attention from visitors:

• House of Augustus – the relatively modest private residence of Rome's first emperor, with well-preserved frescoes
• House of Livia – believed to have belonged to Augustus's wife, known for its vividly painted interior walls
• Hut of Romulus (Roma Quadrata) – traces of an Iron Age hut associated with the legendary founding of Rome
• Stadium of Domitian – a long, sunken garden built in the form of a racetrack, likely used for private walks rather than actual races
• Lupercal – the traditional site of the cave where legend says the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus

Few sites carry as much symbolic weight in Roman mythology as the Palatine. It is here that Romulus is said to have killed his brother Remus in a dispute over leadership, an act that gave Rome both its name and its founding myth. The hill's name itself is thought to derive from Pales, an ancient deity associated with shepherds and flocks.

The Palatine was also the stage for the Lupercalia, an ancient fertility festival held each February, and later became so closely tied to imperial rule that the word "palace" in many modern languages descends directly from "Palatine."

Visitors can explore the Palatine independently or as part of a guided experience, and it is almost always visited together with the adjoining Roman Forum.

• Self-guided walk – explore at your own pace using on-site information panels
• Guided tours – small-group or private tours that explain the layout of the imperial palaces and mythology in more depth
• Combined ticket – a single ticket typically covers the Palatine, Roman Forum, and Colosseum
• Special access tours – some operators offer entry to areas like the House of Augustus, which have limited daily visitor numbers

Spring (April to May) and fall (September to October) offer the most comfortable temperatures for walking the hill's uneven, largely unshaded paths. Summer visits are best made early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.

Because the Palatine tends to draw fewer crowds than the Colosseum, it can also serve as a quieter alternative during the busiest midday hours of a Rome itinerary.

• Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes, as much of the terrain is uneven gravel and stone
• Bring water and sun protection, since shade is limited across most of the site
• Enter via the Via di San Gregorio entrance, near the Arch of Constantine, which is often less crowded than other entry points
• Allow at least two to three hours to see the Palatine and Roman Forum together
• Check current opening hours and ticket requirements in advance, as these can change seasonally

The Palatine's central location makes it easy to combine with several of Rome's other major ancient sites.

• Roman Forum – directly adjacent, and included on the same ticket
• Colosseum – a short walk away, also covered by the combined ticket
• Circus Maximus – visible from the hill's southern edge, once Rome's largest chariot-racing venue
• Arch of Constantine – located near the Via di San Gregorio entrance