Nero's Golden Palace

Let’s begin with the basics. The Domus Aurea (which means “Golden House” in Latin) was the most opulent palace in Ancient Rome built by the notorious emperor Nero. Nero had extravagant tastes, and he took advantage of a devastating fire in 64 AD which had destroyed many buildings in the centre of Rome to construct a vast Imperial palace over the ruins.

You would expect the palace of an emperor to be luxurious, but even by the standards of Roman emperors, the Domus Aurea was excessive. The palace and its gardens extended over a mind-boggling scale – by some estimates covering an area of up to 300 acres.

There were over 300 rooms in the Domus Aurea, but few bedrooms, so it’s not certain that Nero ever slept in the palace. Instead, the Domus Aurea was designed primarily for entertainment purposes: Nero’s decadent parties were legendary, though not always for the right reasons. Legend has it that during one barn-burning jamboree a particularly unfortunate guest was asphyxiated by clouds of rose petals falling from the ceiling!

Nero entrusted the project of his Golden House to the renowned architects Severus and Celer, while the decorations were created by the painter Famulus. The works were completed at an incredible speed, with most of the construction being finalised in just 4 years. Pretty amazing without modern technology.

Read more about the history of the Domus Aurea here. INSERT LINK or CARD HERE

There are many incredible sights to look out for on a tour of the Domus Aurea. These are just some of the highlights.

• The Octagonal Hall
  This amazing octagonal room is the architectural highlight of Nero’s palace. The ceiling is pierced by a central oculus that would have revealed the starry night sky to Nero’s dining guests as they reclined on couches during the emperor’s legendary banquets. Amazingly, ancient sources recount that the dining hall rotated continuously, offering an extraordinary viewpoint to its occupants. The oculus of this incredibly ambitious structure proved higly influential, and inspired the design of the Pantheon a few decades later.
• The Room of Achilles and Skyros
  The Room of Achilles and Skyros features some of the finest ornamentation in the Domus Aurea, a superb testament to the skill of the painter Famulus. The room is named after a fresco depicting the legendary moment when Achilles, disguised as a woman, is discovered among the daughters of King Lycomedes on the island of Skyros. The walls and ceiling are adorned with the remains of intricate frescoes featuring delicate grotesque patterns and mythological figures – a far cry from the stereotype of restrained classical aesthetics.
• The Nymphaeum of Odysseus
  This recently restored chamber is adorned with intricate decorations, including seashell-covered vaults and delicate mosaics, creating a shimmering, grotto-like effect that once reflected the play of light and water brought here by innumerable fountains. Nymphaea (plural for Nymphaeum) were commonly found in elite Roman architecture, often serving as spaces of relaxation and contemplation, evoking mythological grottos dedicated to water nymphs. At the heart of the Nymphaeum is a remarkable mosaic illustrating a scene from Homer’s Odyssey, where the ancient hero encounters the cyclops Polyphemus.
• Renaissance Graffiti
  When the Domus Aurea was rediscovered in the 15th century, artists including Raphael braved the dark tunnels to sketch the frescoes they found there, changing our understanding of ancient art forever. Painters such as Pinturicchio, Filippino Lippi and Giovanni da Udine left behind signatures and graffiti, which can still be seen today if you look carefully!
• The Pentagonal Courtyard
  The Pentagonal Courtyard was a huge, architecturally sophisticated courtyard that served as one of the palace’s grand outdoor spaces. Once adorned with lush gardens, fountains, and colonnades, this served as a grand entrance to the palace and is fascinatingly recreated thanks to virtual reality. Nearby, the so-called Hall with the Gilded Vault features superb stucco decorations.

Because the Domus Aurea is an active archaeological site, the excavations are open to the public for guided tours only on weekends, from Friday to Sunday, from 9am to 5pm. Time slots are available to book every 15 minutes, with the last entry at 3.45pm.

The rest of the week sees archaeologists and other experts continuing the research that has already brought so much fascinating information to light.

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of visiting the Domus Aurea is the state of the art virtual reality that bring the ruins dramatically to life. During your visit you’ll get to don VR goggles which reveal digital reconstructions of grand arcades, lavish halls and tinkling fountains bathed in golden light.

Fragmented frescoes are restored to their full splendor. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we can experience Nero’s palace just as the emperor and his privileged guests once did – an opulent vision of imperial extravagance. We highly recommend choosing this option instead of the regular ticket.