Palatine Hill

Palatine Hill, or Italian Monte Palatino, is located over the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus. The city of Rome was founded here and your visit to the Eternal City can’t be completed without an exploration of its impressive history. Moreover, it was the center of the most important legend of Romulus and Remus. The Palatine is a green area with wildflowers among the ruins and beauties of the Farnese Gardens. Also, there you will find many panoramic views of Rome.

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Tickets

The price of tickets for the hills is 18 euros (+2 euros reservation fee), which includes admission to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. There are 3 options to make a reservation and visit Palatine Hill:

You can book online on the official website www.coopculture.it. This is the best way to avoid queues at the ticket desk. Don’t forget to print your tickets.
You can buy tickets at the ticket office. You shouldn’t better buy it at the ticket desk at the Colosseum. Instead, you should better go to the ticket desk at the Palatine, on Via di San Gregorio or another one, near the Roman Forum, in Largo Salaria Vecchia. The queues are shorter.
Book a tour. If you choose this option, you won’t have to worry about tickets or queues. Both shared and private tours of the hill, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

History and interesting facts

The significance of the Palatine Hill is that the Roman Empire was founded there under the direction of Romulus. It is the site of the Lupercal Cave, where according to the legend, Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf Lupa who raised them. Now it is a symbol of Rome.

Consequently, the hill served as a residential district, and there was a belief that since the air was cleaner on the top of the hill, there is less chance for the nobility to catch diseases of the working class.

Moreover, Augustus, Marcus Antonius, and Cicero had homes on the Palatine

The Palatine consisted of three summits: the Germalus, the Veila, and the Palatium. Here, the Palatium was the most important for the summits and later gave the name to the entire hill.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the architecture of the hill also fell. It was restored in the middle ages into a stronghold but abandoned over the years. During that period of time, almost the entire hill was owned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who created a botanical garden on the top of it.

What to See

The hill covers a large area where all the main excavations are up of it.

Domus Flavia

Domus Flavia was built in 81 BC by Emperor Domitian as an official residence. Nowadays you can find many extensive ruins of it.

House of Augustus

The House of Augustus was his private residence. Nowadays, there are original colorful frescoes that went through time.

House of Livia

Fix price transfer from the Fiumicino Airport to Rome

€60.00

House of Livia was built in the 1^st-century BC. Nowadays, you can still find the original mosaics and frescoes on the walls and ceilings.

Farnese Gardens

Built in 1550, Alessandro Farnese created his botanical gardens on the top of the ruins of the Palace of Tiberius (Palace of Caligula), built in the 1^st-century A.D. Moreover, it was one of the first botanical gardens built in the whole of Europe with many rare plants.

Palatine Museum

Palatine Museum contains Roman sculptures, excavations, statues, frescoes, and mosaics from the ancient Roman elite.

The Ruins

The Palatine Hills has many ruins from ancient palaces. For instance, near the Circus Maximus, you will find remains of the Palace of Septimius Severus and the ruins of his Baths, who was the Roman emperor between 193 and 211 A.D.

On the north of the Palace of Septimius Severus is the stadium built together with the Palace of Domitian. Over three centuries, the Palace, built-in 81 A.D., was considered Rome’s largest palace. There were two wings: a private one (the Domus Augustana) and a public one (the Domus Flavia). Today, you can find the remains of both of them on Palatine Hill.

Archaeologists discovered remains of an early settlement that date back to the times of the first king of Rome, Romulus. The site is known as the Hut of Romulus

How to get and find the entrance?

The Palatine is located near the Colosseum and Roman Forum, in the historic center of the Eternal City. Moreover, there is a short walking distance from Piazza Venezia and Circus Maximus.

The closest metro station is on Line B – Colosseo.
There are lots of buses that go to this area, such as 75 and 87.

The Palatine Hills is one of the most important sites of the Eternal City. Undoubtedly, it would help if you discovered it during your visit to Rome.

Author: Kate Zusmann

For the last 10 years, I live in the Eternal City. Traveling, exploring new things, writing blogs, and shooting vlogs are my main hobbies, but the thing that I like even more is sharing my experience and thoughts with you! Explore Rome with Us :)

Palatine Hill

Tickets

History and interesting facts