One of the wonders of ancient Rome
Domus Tiberiana is one of the most important archaeological sites in Rome that has been closed for 50 years and was reopened in September 2023. After the long and delicate restoration work it was possible to reopen to the public this is the first Imperial Palace in Rome.
All that remains is to discover the history and the new exhibition path that brings you closer to the full enjoyment of the archaeological area of the city center. Visiting this area makes it possible to go back to the times of ancient Rome.
Domus Tiberiana: what is it and where is it?
The Domus Tiberiana is the magnificent imperial residence located on the Palatine Hill and covers over 4 hectares. The archaeological area in which it is located was closed in the 70s because of serious structural problems that did not make it possible to visit this place safely.
On 21 September 2023 it was reopened after 50 years, thus making possible the restoration of the circular routes between the Roman Forum and the Palatine crossing the Horti Farnesiani and the ramp of Domiziano. In this way the visitor will have the opportunity to retrace the path of the Emperor and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the ancient world.
The history of the Domus Tiberiana
The Domus Tiberiana was erected on the Palatine Hill in the first century d. C. and also included large areas beyond the residence. Here there were gardens, places of worship, rooms for the praetorian guard that protected the emperor and a neighborhood that overlooked the Roman Forum and that was much appreciated by the aristocracy of the time.
Contrary to what one might think from the name, its construction was the work of Nero as evidenced by the archaeological investigations conducted. In the period of the emperors Domitian and Hadrian were made remarkable changes that made it even greater. The first to expand the Domus towards the Forum was Caligula.
Domitian had it enriched with a majestic monumental entrance. Until the late ancient age the palace remained in operation and became a papal seat in the seventh century under John VII. It then fell into a state of neglect until the restoration by the Farnese family in the sixteenth century.
Domus Tiberiana: the new exhibition itinerary
The new exhibition path of the Domus Tiberiana is developed through seven exhibition halls that overlook the Roman Forum and two multimedia rooms on the opposite side. Here is a holographic reconstruction of the monument and the projection of a documentary. It is an itinerary through history that is accompanied by the vision of the restored architectural portions and a tactile path.
You can see the imperial baths and the connected infrastructure. You can also see the stucco-decorated surfaces on the Caligula bridge where the subjects of court life are depicted. The setting is developed through a logical theme in the environments in the neighborhood that welcomed services in addition to retail stores. Administrative work probably also took place here. The visit is characterized by the presence of a wide selection of over 100 finds that have come to light during the excavations carried out in the last thirty years.
These are ceramic, metal and glass objects. In this way historical reconstruction is enriched by these objects such as pottery that brings back to the type of goods and consumption of the time. The coins found allow us to reconstruct the way economic transitions took place at that time.
The Archaeological Park of the Colosseum
The Domus Tiberiana is part of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum that was established in 2017 through a ministerial decree. The objective was to assign the task of the protection and enhancement of the archaeological area within Rome to an autonomous institute. Part of this archaeological area are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Domus Aurea and the Palatine.
The Colosseum was built in the first century d. C. by order of the family of the Flavian dynasty. There were shows here that drew many people. It is the largest amphitheater in the world. The Roman Forum was in antiquity a marshy area then reclaimed from the seventh century B.C. to become the center of Roman public life for over a thousand years. Many monuments were built here over the centuries.
On the Palatine hill are preserved the remains dating back to the Iron Age that refer to the oldest nucleus of the city of Rome. The hill between the 2nd and 1st centuries a. C. became the residence of the Roman aristocracy. Later, it became the seat of the imperial palaces. It is no coincidence that here you will find the Domus Tiberiana, the Domus Transitoria, the Domus Aurea and the Domus Flavia.
The historical and cultural importance of this archaeological area is something unique and sensational, it is like being next to the beating heart of the Roman Empire.
