This is the most beautiful and mysterious hill of the city, upon which time has left its deepest and most compelling traces. It is here where we find evidence of huts and settlements dating back to the 8th century B.C., constructed with the same form of the funeral urns typical in the region of Lazio dating from the same period. Atop this hill where was Rome was born, we find also vivid remains of the luxurious and enormous residences of the emperors, from Augustus, who lived here with his wife, Livia, in modest dwelling adorned with gorgeous frescoes (not open for visits), to the grand palaces of successive emperors, each like a small city composed of the public and private spaces of the ruling few. Today, we can visit the Triclinium, the vestiges of a grand banquet hall paved in marble- believed to be place where emperors dined on delectable feasts with guests, enjoying the view of his lavish garden filled with superb fountains- and the auditorium that served as his forum for political consultations. Also atop this imperial hill stood a grand temple to the god Apollo, along with the temple to Magna Mater, erected at the end of the 3rd century B.C. in honor of the Eastern divinity which was extremely popular also in Rome, and that had considerable influence on Christianity. From the fantastic architecture and the natural splendor, the Palatine Hill offers a unique and breathtaking view of the entire city, of its iron temples, of the Campidoglio and of Circus Maximus, all lying below like the subordinate population that once regarded their emperor high above. From this palatial summit, the rulers of Rome watched over their domain- the people, the threats, and the spectaculars of horse and chariot races that took place below in the stadium of Circus Maximus