Domus Aurea
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WHY VISIT THE DOMUS AUREA?
The rooms of the Domus Aurea that have been preserved to this day are a testament to the splendor achieved during the golden age of this extraordinary residence. Each room was often named after its decorative elements, such as the "hall of the vault of owls," the "hall of the black vault," and the most famous, the "hall of the golden vault." The few remaining pictorial fragments highlight the exceptional quality of the decorations; many artists were inspired by the "grottoes" of the Domus Aurea—among the most prominent were Raphael, Ghirlandaio, and Pinturicchio, who even left their signatures to mark their visit to Nero’s villa. One of the most famous sculptures unearthed during excavations of the villa is the group of Laocoön, which represents the ultimate sacrifice of the priest and his sons, and which once adorned the complex.
A BIT OF HISTORY OF THE DOMUS AUREA
The Domus Aurea was the villa built by Emperor Nero after the great fire that devastated Rome in 64 AD. When Nero died, the villa was destroyed in order to return to the Roman people the lands that the emperor had taken for building his lavish residence. Of the once sumptuous villa, only a part remains, which was accidentally rediscovered at the end of the fifteenth century when some explorers ventured into the underground "grottoes" and discovered ancient paintings and what would later be called "grotesque" art. The villa extended across the Palatine Hill, the Oppian Hill, the Velian Hill, and part of the Esquiline Hill. Today, only the sector on the Oppian Hill survives, winding around the main octagonal hall.
WHAT IS THE DOMUS AUREA TODAY?
The Domus Aurea that can be visited today is what remains after the destruction that followed Nero’s death: a part of the aqueduct called Arcus Neroniani, which supplied water to the Domus Aurea, a section of the Baths of Trajan, and the masonry of Nero’s nymphaeum. What remains today is essentially a core of about 150 rooms covered by barrel vaults. From the villa’s original luxury and splendor, only stuccoes and mosaics survive, while the frescoes that decorate the corridors and walls recall the style of Pompeii.
CURIOSITIES ABOUT THE DOMUS AUREA
Did you know that Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was the fifth emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and ruled for fourteen years until his death at the age of thirty? According to Catholic tradition, it was Nero who ordered the crucifixion of Peter. Did you know that Nero also commissioned the construction of an enormous marble statue of himself? The sculptor Zenodorus created the 37-meter-tall colossus, which was placed at the entrance of the palace. After the fifth century AD, the statue was demolished by Pope Gregory I, who did not approve of the pagan symbol represented by Nero’s colossus.
HOW CAN YOU VISIT THE DOMUS AUREA?
The only way to visit the Domus Aurea is to join a guided tour at a predetermined time. With this tour, you will discover Nero’s ancient residence in all its magnificence, thanks also to multimedia installations and virtual reality experiences along the itinerary.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Rome is truly an open-air museum: as you walk through the city, you can admire the ruins of grand Imperial Rome and its world-famous monuments. By following an itinerary and using the Rome Map, you can discover most of the city’s historical sites while strolling. Starting from the Colosseum—the iconic amphitheater where gladiators once fought—you can reach the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. Continuing the visit, you can cross the Altar of the Fatherland, proceed to Campo de’ Fiori with its colorful market, and reach Castel Sant’Angelo by crossing the Tiber. Not far from the castle is Vatican City, home to artistic and architectural wonders such as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Vatican Gardens, a place of relaxation and meditation for the Pope. Among the museums not to be missed during your stay in Rome are those of the National Roman Museum: Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, and the Baths of Diocletian. Other interesting museums for both ancient and more recent art are the Capitoline Museums and the Borghese Gallery. Other ancient monuments worth a visit include the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the archaeological site of the Villa of the Quintilii, and the impressive ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, once a much-frequented site by the ancient Romans. You can continue your visit with the Pantheon, the famous Trevi Fountain, the Ara Pacis Museum, and the atmospheric Catacombs, the ancient underground funerary monuments of Rome. If you are interested in visiting places around Rome, you can explore the village of Castel Gandolfo—considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and the summer residence of the Pope. Not far from Rome, you will also find Villa d’Este in Tivoli, worth a visit for its architecture and beautiful gardens.
