Starting with Augustus (Octavian), emperors built, rebuilt, expanded grand imperial palaces on the Palatine Hill. Before imperial times the hill was mostly occupied by the houses of the rich.

The hill originally had two summits separated by a depression; the highest part was called Palatium and the other Germalus (or Cermalus). Using the Forma Urbis its perimeter enclosed 63 acres (25 hector); while the Regionary Catalogues of the 4th century CE enclose 131 acres (53 hectors).

circa 1300/1200 BCE- 476 CE

Late Bronze Age
Remains of the protohistoric settlement on the Palatine have been brought to light on various occasions and often in the same areas starting from the early 20th century. The frequentation of the Palatine in the late Bronze Age (13th-12th century BCE) is attested by some materials found in secondary contexts; only in the early Iron Age, perhaps already in Latial phase IIA (10th century BCE), the remains of structures and the materials confirm the presence on the Germalus of a stable hut village that survived until the end of the 7th century BCE. During the archaic period, the whole area was levelled and a new construction phase began. The best preserved of the huts brought to light is hut A, with a rectangular ground plan, dating to Latial phase III (late 9th-8th century BCE). The reconstruction by A. Davico is on display in the Museum with the sequence of layers found inside, corresponding to the period of use, abandonment and subsequent filling of the structure.

The materials from the settlement on the Germalus, a chronological selection of which is on display, comprise kitchenware (braziers, large containers for foodstuffs like dolia and jars, supports) and tableware: containers for liquids (two-handled vases, amphorae, jugs), vessels for drinking (various types of cup, beakers) and eating (bowls and, among the most recent materials, plates). Also present are objects connected with spinning and weaving like spindle whorls and bobbins. The pottery shows the changes taking place in production and eating habits during the period of use of the huts.

Roman Origins
The history of the Palatine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, spans a long period dating back to archaic period (circa 800 BCE) of Italian peninsula. According to the legend of ancient Rome the hill is believed to be the site of the mythical founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BCE. In reality, archaeological evidence suggests that the area was inhabited as early as the tenth century BCE, making it one of Rome's oldest settled areas.

Republican Period
During the Roman Republic (circa 509 BCE to 27 BCE), the Palatine Hill became a prestigious and most sought after residential district, favored by the city's elite for its commanding views of the surrounding landscape, specially its connection with the Roman Forum in the valley below and strategic location. It also housed important religious and political institutions, including the residence of the Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of Rome.

Roman Empire
The significance of the Palatine Hill reached its zenith during the period of Roman Empire (circa 27 BCE to 476 CE). Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, and Domitian, among others, constructed magnificent imperial palaces on the hill. These grand palaces served as the administrative, ceremonial, and residential centers of imperial power, solidifying the Palatine's status as the heart of Rome's political and social life.

circa 1800 CE-

The Archaeological activities on the Palatine Hill have been ongoing for at least two centuries, revealing a wealth of information about ancient Rome and its development. These activities encompass a range of techniques and approaches aimed at uncovering, documenting, and interpreting the rich archaeological heritage of the hill. Archaeologists conduct systematic excavations to uncover the remains of ancient structures, artifacts, and other cultural deposits buried beneath the surface of the Palatine Hill. These excavations involve careful digging, stratigraphic analysis, and documentation of findings.

Archaeologists use surveying and mapping techniques to record the layout, dimensions, and spatial relationships of archaeological features on the hill. This includes the use of geophysical survey methods such as ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry to identify subsurface anomalies indicative of buried structures. Comprehensive documentation and recording of archaeological finds are essential for cataloging and analyzing the material culture of the Palatine Hill. This includes photography, drawing, and detailed descriptions of artifacts, architectural features, and stratigraphic layers.

Archaeologists work to conserve and preserve the archaeological remains on the Palatine Hill to protect them from degradation and ensure their long-term survival. This may involve stabilization of structures, preventive measures against environmental damage, and development of conservation strategies. Archaeological activities on the Palatine Hill also involve interpretation and analysis of findings to reconstruct the history, social organization, and cultural practices of ancient Rome. This includes studying architectural styles, artifact typologies, and historical contexts to gain insights into the lives of the people who inhabited the hill.

Many archaeological projects on the Palatine Hill involve public engagement and education initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and promote understanding of the past. This may include guided tours, educational programs, and outreach activities aimed at diverse audiences.

circa 750 BCE

Archaic Hut Village
On the summit of the Palatine facing the Tiber, excavations have brought to light a small hut village, usually linked to the "founding of Rome". The remains and excavations of the trenches and holes dug in to the soil, indicate the presence of two huts with beaten earth wall, supported by a framework of wooden poles and with a roof of interwoven branches. The position of the huts, coinciding with that described by the ancient literary sources, has suggested that this was the place where the founder Romulus traditionally lived.

circa 550 BCE

Archaic Cisterns
Two circular cisterns dating to the sixth century BCE can be seen in the area of the sanctuary of Victoria and Magna Mater, cut in to the tufa and made of blocks of the same material with an internal coating of plaster. One had an ogival roof while the other was uncoverd and accessible via a staircase. Built to store water, these cisterns soon became dumps for votive materials. The numerous pottery fragments collected inside indicate the existence of a cult dedicated to a goddess practiced here even before the construction of the two temples of Victoria and Magna Mater (circa third century BCE).

circa 294 BCE

Temple of Victoria
The remains of the temple of Victoria was discovered south-east of the Temple of Magna Mater and the small-temple. It was originally built in 294 BCE on the (Germalus) summit of the Palatine Hill. Today only part of the podium in tufa blocks belonging to the most ancient building has survived, alongside fragments of columns in peprino marble and some painted terracottas including the faces of two statues of deities which decorated the pediment (now the Palatine Museum). The building stood at the top of the road ascending from the Velabrum, known as the clivus Victoriae. The temple was damaged by fire in 111 BCE and was completely rebuilt sometime after.

circa 250 BCE

Clivus Victoriae
The Clivus Victoriae (Victoria street), ran along the slope of the Palatine facing the Velabrum, ascending to the sanctuary of Victoria; it has thus been identified with the so-called clivus Victoriae mentioned in the ancient literary sources. Part of the paved surface survives, dating to the second or first century BCE when the road was turned in to a covered walk way by the substruction arches. On the terrace above the road ay the adjacent sanctuary with the temples of Victoria and Magna Mater. At the corner of the road was a public fountain dating back to the third century BCE, constructed out of tufa blocks, among the most ancient water foutain discovered so far in Rome.

circa 200-100 BCE

House of the Griffins
A steep staircase, part of which is ancient, leads from the back of the so-called lararium to the underground floor of a house dating to the second to first century BCE. Though partly destroyed by the foundations of the palace above, it gives some idea of the type of aristocratic residence which stood on the Palatine during the Republican period. The house had two storeys; on the ground floor a few remains of the atrium with its pool in peperino and coloured mosaics survive; the underground level is preserved almost intact and its rooms are adorned with frescoes, mosaics and stucco decorations. One of there, depicting two griffins (inspect), gives the building its name "House of the Griffins" (Casa dei Grifi).

circa 191 BCE

Temple of Magna Mater
In 204 BCE, faced with the threat of Hannibal's advance, the senate of Rome vowed the construction of a temple next to that of Victoria, dedicated to Magna Mater, a deity from Asia Minor represented by a mysterious black stone. According to tradition the goddess protected Aeneas when he fled from Troy, and would therefore protect the Romans who considered this hero their noble ancestor. The temple was dedicated in 191 BCE, but the high podium which survives today dates to reconstruction work after the fire of 111 BCE, followed by restoration under Augustus. The square in front of the temple hosted the Ludi Megalenses, an annual festival in honour of the goddess with bloody rituals and theatrical performances.

circa 75 BCE - 25 CE

Via Nova
The name Via Nova (meaning the "new road") is generally applied to the stretch of road that runs in a straight line along the north-west slope of the Palatine Hill, almost parallel to the Via Sacra ("sacred path"). All the literary sources that mention the Via Nova date it to the Republican and Augustan periods, but the paved road that can be seen today relates to urban developments in the early imperial period, probably in the reign of Nero. Recent excavations have confirmed that the paved road was laid over earlier remains, specifically a late Republican domus (house).

circa 40 BCE

House of Augustus
The House of Augustus

circa 40 BCE - 30 CE

House of Livia
One of the best-preserved late Republican houses on the Palatine is known as the "House of Livia" due to the discovery in its cellars of a water conduit with the name of Augustus' wife Livia stamped on it; she must therefore have lived here. Among the surviving rooms, on the basement level, is a sort of atrium supported by travertine pillars with four large rooms opening on to it adorned with mosaic floors and refined II style wall paintings. On the walls are scenes drawn from myth and genre paintings. In the central room (the tablinum) are Mercury freeing Io, loved by Jupiter, from imprisonment by Argus, and the nymph Galatea fleeing the enamoured Polyphemus. In the left-hand room are winged griffins and other fantastic creatures whilst the right-hand room has a painted portico decorated with a yellow frieze with fantasy landscapes from which hang festoons (inspect) of leaves, flowers and fruit.

circa 50 BCE

Small Temple
Between the temples of Victoria and Magna Mater are the remains of a third smaller temple dating back to the first century BCE, reconstructed with a brick podium in the second century CE. Some scholars have identified this as the Auguratorium, the place where augurs observed the flight of birds to draw omens from them. Others believe that this was the shrine of Victoria Virgo, which is known to have been built in 193 BCE next to the temple of Victoria.

circa 30 BCE

Temple of Apollo and Portico of the Danaids
The temple of Apollo Palatinus was vowed by Octavian in 36 BCE and dedicated in 28 BCE. The high concrete podium and various parts of the decorations found scattered in the area survive; Corinthian capital in white marble, part of the doorpost depicting a Delphic tripod and fragments of a colossal statue of the god which stood in the cella or near the altar. In front of the temple was a forecourt enclosed by a portico with yellow marble columns,between which were fifty red and black statues of Danaids, three of which were found intact during excavations (now displayed in the Museo Palatino). On one side of the porticos was a library with books in Latin and Greek which sometimes hosted senate meetings as well.

circa 30 BCE

Isis Hall
The small richly decorated apsidal chamber was discovered by Giacomo Boni in 1912 CE. The strong stylistic affinities and the contents of the wall decorations suggest that this chamber must have been part of the vast Augustan residence of the Palatine Hill.

The paintings, dating back to the 30 BCE, present numerous allusions to the ancient Egyptian mythology, such as depictions of Egyptian goddess Isis, her priestesses and of ritual objects linked to the cult of the goddess, thus explaining its modern name "Hall of Isis". The walls are bounded at the top by a continuous frieze with uraei (snakes) and lotus flowers and by a stucco cornice, and present a decoration of illusionistic architecture arranged on several registers with central shrines containing painted landscapes with mythological scenes, most of which have unfortunately been lost. Other panels (also barely legible) were positioned next to the shrines; the myth of the birth of Helen may have been depicted on the long wall, on the right, with the disembarkation of Helen and Paris on the short back wall. The wall of the apse presented a sacred landscape with ducks around a spring.

The rich decorations of the vaulted chamber, which preserve traces of gilding, is an original one; it has a yellow ribbon on a broad undulating dark blue band, enclosing candelabra and plant motifs of unusually fine workmanship, almost as if imitating a textile or fabric.

circa 28 BCE

Augustan Sanctuary and Residential Complex
The Domus Augusti (domus of Augustus) is one of the most significant archaeological sites on the Palatine Hill. Situated on the Germalus summit of the Palatine facing the valley of the Circus Maximus and near the mementos of the founder Romulus kept in the sanctuary of Victoria and Magna Mater, excavations have brought to light the remains of a large residential complex and religious sanctuary Augustus dedicated to Apollo in 28 BCE. The area previously hosted a late Republican residential district (second to first century BCE). This was an area of aristocratic houses, with luxurious wall and floor decorations, of which significant remains survive providing an idea of how the Palatine looked when it was home to Rome's most powerful men.

According to ancient authors, Octavian family initially lived in one of these houses, chosen for its vicinity to the original home of the founder Romulus with whom the prince wished to identify himself. Later on, starting from this house, Augustus began the construction of a sanctuary dominated by the temple of Apollo Palatinus, his tutelary deity, which also incorporated his new private residence along side the state residence to which he was entitled as High Priest. Also belonging to the sanctuary were a shrine of Vesta, a broad portico in front of the temple of Apollo decorated with statues, and a library opening on to the portico used occasionally for senate meetings. The large complex commissioned by Augustus completely changed the area's appearance, transforming it in to a series of sacred buildings linked to the memory of Rome's first emperor.

circa 14-37 CE

Domus Tiberiana
The Domus Tiberiana was a grand imperial residence situated on the Palatine Hill in Rome, primarily used by Emperor Tiberius after his ascension to the throne in 14 CE. The palace is believed to have been constructed on the site or adjacent to the earlier House of Augustus, which Tiberius inherited as part of his imperial inheritance. While Augustus had designed his residence to be modest and open, in contrast to the extravagant palaces built by later emperors, Tiberius expanded the complex into a much larger and more private structure, reflecting his desire for seclusion and control.

The Domus Tiberiana's layout was likely influenced by earlier Roman architectural trends, but it incorporated significant innovations in terms of scale and design, with vast open courtyards, private chambers, and extensive living quarters for the emperor and his retinue. Key features of the palace included an elaborate peristyle garden, a grand auditorium for public meetings, and a private wing known for its panoramic views of Rome. Although the Domus Tiberiana was primarily associated with Tiberius, it continued to serve as an imperial residence for several subsequent emperors, including Caligula and Claudius, who extensive additions and modifications to the structure.

The palace's location offered a direct visual connection with the Forum Romanum and other key sites of the city, symbolizing the emperor's dominance over both the city and the Roman Empire. However, despite its monumental nature, much of the Domus Tiberiana has been lost or significantly altered over the centuries, and much of what is known about the palace comes from later literary and archaeological sources. The ruins that remain on the Palatine today provide a glimpse into the complexity and ambition of Tiberius's architectural vision, representing not only the grandeur of Imperial Rome (27 BCE - 476 CE) but also the increasing centralization of power under the emperor.

circa 54-68 CE

Neronian Cryptoporticus
The cryptoporticus of Nero is one of the most distinctive monuments of the Palatine. It is an underground corridor, 130 meters in length, illuminated by basement windows. It connects the south side of the Domus Tiberiana to the so-called House of Livia. This covered passageway served to link the different parts of the imperial palace in the Julio-Claudian period. Originally the vault was covered with fine white stucco (inspect), depicting cupids within decorative frames. Only a few fragments remain. While this stucco decoration has generally been dated to the age of Nero, it probably relates to an period, the first half of the first century CE. Today the cryptoporticus is used as a temporary exhibition.

circa 56-60 CE

Domus Transitoria
The remains of the so-called Domus Transitoria lie beneath the Triclinium of the Flavian palace, important archaeological record of Nero's palace which, according to ancient authors, extended from the Palatine to the Oppian hill. Nero's grandiose domus, initially named "transitoria", was rebuilt after the fire of 64 CE and renamed "Domus Aurea" ("golden"). The Neronian rooms were excavated by the Farnese family in the 18th century and again in the early 20th century. Two ancient staircases lead down to a courtyard which has a nymphaeum divided into niches on one side; the central niche hosted a cascade which fed the water jets in front of a platform adorned with little coloured marble columns. On the opposite side was a colonnaded pavilion used as a summer living room by the emperor, who reclined in the se- micircular niche. At the sides of the courtyard were luxuriously deco- rated rooms with colourful inlaid floors, marble walls and frescoes de- picting epic scenes: the paintings, embellished with glass inserts, mainly illustrated the Trojan war cycle, a favourite subject for Nero (the paintings are on display in the Palatine Museum). At intervals along the walls were stepped structures for cascades of water. The pro- fusion of gilding in the painted decorations was intended to create an immediate link with the Golden Age, of which Nero saw himself as the initiator.

circa 64-96 CE

Barberini Vineyard Area
The large rectangular area known as the Barberini Vineyard after the family who owned it until 1910 CE is an artificial terrace created in this corner of the Palatine Hill in the Neronian-Flavian period (circa 64-96 CE). Before this intervention the area was occupied by aristocratic residences, one of which, with a peristyle and refined decorations, has been brought to light by excavations. After the fire of 64 CE, Nero incorporated the whole area in to the imperial estate and probably used it as a garden with luxurious pavilions, like the massive circular tower uncovered by excavations, which may have been a panoramic dining room (cenatio rotunda).

The Flavian emperors (circa 69-96 CE) rebuilt the garden and surrounded it with a portico. According to some scholars this was the site of the Adonaea or the "garden of Adonis" described by ancient authors as being inside the imperial palace. The portico was rebuilt after the fire of 191 CE and again during the reign of Elagabalus (circa 218-222 CE). At this time a large temple dedicated by Elagabalus to a sun god of the same name was built at the centre of this area. It was probably rededicated by his successor Alexander Severus (circa 222-235 CE) to Jupiter the Avenger (Juppiter Ultor). On part of the podium (inspect) stands the church of San Sebastiano; according to tradition saint Sebastian was martyred on the steps of the temple.

circa 80-92 CE

Flavian Palace
The Flavian Palace, commonly referred to as the Domus Flavia, constitutes a component of the expansive Palace of Domitian situated on Rome's Palatine Hill. Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus oversaw its construction, and it was finalized in the year 92 CE. The design is credited to Rabirius, the master architect of the time.

The term "Domus Flavia" is a contemporary designation for the northwestern part of the Palace, which houses the majority of the expansive "public" spaces intended for official affairs, social gatherings, and ceremonial functions. While Domitian marked the final ruler of the Flavian dynasty, the palace remained in use by subsequent emperors with minor adjustments until the empire's eventual decline.

circa 80-92 CE

Domus Augustana
Traditionally known as the Domus Augustana, it was situated adjacent to and connected with the large public areas of the so-called Domus Flavia which was the private sector of Domitian's palace. Arranged on two levels; one at the same level as the Domus Flavia and a basement storey with different architectural and functional characteristics. On the upper floor, the entrance sector, a vast uncoverd area, is poorly preserved; it led in to a porticoed courtyard (peristyle) with a pool at the center and a series of residential apartments at the sides. About ten meters below was the lower storey of the palace, intimate and secluded, with a courtyard with an original fountain and luxuriously decorated rooms, as well as some small rooms where the emperor lived his private life. The sequence of spaces in this "private" sector ended in a monumental curved facade overlooking the Circus Maximus.

circa 81-96 CE

Domitianic Extension of Aqua Claudia
Emperor Domitian extended the Auqa Claudia on to the Palatine Hill, which was a continuation of emperor Nero's extension (Arcus Neroniani) from (Spes Vetus) on the Esquiline hill to the Caelian hill. After Domitian's extension of Aqua Claudia could provide all 14 districts of ancient Rome with water. The section on the Caelian hill was called arcus Caelimontani.

Aqua Claudia's extension by Domitian on to the Palatine Hill served not only the imperial palaces but the entire Palatine hill. The Aqua Claudia was originally begun by Caligula (circa 38-41 CE), inaugurated by Claudius (circa 41-54 CE) and then was extended by emperor Nero and subsequent Flavian emperors (circa 64-96 CE); the surviving tall brick arches visible today belong to this later restoration project. The aquaduct, fed by a spring in the upper Aniene valley, supplied the Caelian hill before reaching the Palatine, where it flowed in to large collection tanks leading in to a wide reaching distribution network of lead pipes.

circa 81-96 CE

Imperial Palace Complex
The imperial palace stands on the sumit of the Palatine and extends to its slopes, occupying much of the hill. It was built buy the architect Rabirius on the orders of Domitian (circa 81-96 CE) and inaugurated in 92 CE; it was the official residence of all later emperors. The palace was divided in to three sectors; an official or "public" area (the so-called Domus Flavia), a sector hosting private apartments (the so-called Domus Augustana) and a large garden in the form of a stadium with its annexes (today known as the "Palatine Stadium").

The palace was construced out of brick and its foundations were super-imposed on earlier buildings, some of which (such as the "House of the Griffins" and Domus Transitoria) can be visited underneath the Domitianic structures. Conserved to almost its original extent, the palace represented a turning point in the history of Roman architecture, codifying the typology of the dynastic palace in Rome. Its importance is evident from the fact that the word "palace" (palazzo, palais, and palacio etc.) comes from the Latin Palatium, of Palatine, because this is where the first imperial residence was built, a model for all later palaces.

The construction of the "imperial palace" made a deep impression on Domitian's contemporaries. Statius and Martial, his court poets, composed admiring descriptions of it, praising its extra-ordinary size, the beauty of its decorations and the luxury of its furnishings. "The palacewas so vast", wrote Martial, "theat one's eyes became tired looking at it, and so tall that in comparison the Pyramids of Egypt seemed laughable".

circa 92 CE

Stadium
The so-called "Palatine stadium" (Stadio Palatino) is located between the Domus Augustana and the Baths of the Severan palace. It was constructed in the shape of an elongated rectabgle, measuring approx. 161x48 meters and was set some 10 meters lower than the ground level of the Domus-Flavia/Augustana. Originally built at the end of the Domitian's reign (circa 90-95 CE), it was extensively altered during the Severan period, following the fire of 192 CE. The curved south-sidegives thebuilding the appearance of a racecourse or stadium, surrounded on three sides by porticos,originally arranged ontwo or three orders, the lowest of which consists of a succession of brick pillars and semi-columns originally faced with Tuscan-style marble decoration. The floor must have supported a sort of gallery with the function of a terrace, which made it possible to walk around the building enjoying a singular view. At the center of the east side was a large semi-circular exedra, with three rooms on the lower floor, decorated with refined paintings and black and white mosaic, with a vegetal motif and birds, also dating from the Severan period. A large, oval enclosure with an uncertain function was added, perhaps at the time of Theodoric, to the south end of the arena. The stadium, located between the Domus Augustana and the Domus Severiana, can be interpreted as a garden with long shady porches for leisure uses. The structure may also be identified with the Hippodromus Palatii mentioned in the Acts of the Martyrs, where Saint Sebastian was killed.

circa 200 CE

Remains of the Severan Complex
The remains of the Severan imperial complex are situated in the south-eastern corner of the Flavian Palace, conventionally designated (tentatively identified) as the "Severian complex"; this area was particularly enhanced by Septimius Severus (193-211 CE), who also created a monumental entrance, the Septizodium, to impress those arriving on the Palatine from the Appian Way. The complex is usually divided into Arcades (overlooking the Circus Maximus), and Baths (the innermost area, immediately east of the "Stadium"). The Arcades with their unadorned but impressively tall structures, characterize this corner of the hill even from afar; the Baths, attributed to Septimius Severus based on a note in the Historia Augusta, a text dating back to the 4th century CE, have a layout from the Domitian era (81-96 CE), but were renovated several times in the following centuries. They occupied the upper floor of the building, while the numerous intermediate rooms were intended for services and their operation.

From the Domitianic period (circa 81-96 CE) onwards, due to the construction of the system of the vaulted substructures, the imperial palace was extended on to this Severan period terrace facing over the Palatine Stadium and looking towards the Circus Maximus. Excavations have uncovered a large pavilion overlooking a porticoed garden. The structure owes its current appearance to a reconstruction under Septimius Severus (circa 193-211 CE); its rooms were rebuilt with spaces for triclinia, a heating system and luxurious marble panelling; the garden was enriched with fountains and a bath complex was built next to it.

circa 1520 CE

Loggia Mattei
The Loggia Mattei (Lodgings of Mattei) were part of a much larger medieval period "Villa Mattei at Palatine Hill", today known as the Villa Mills. The residential complex was built over the Domus Augustana and the Domus Flavia. This small loggia decorated with frescoes by Baldassarre Peruzzi was built by the Stati family as part of the small country house. The colourful frescoes depicted zodiac, muses, and other classical themes – and some were done by other painters from Raphael's workshop. In 1818 CE, the property was bought by Charles Andrew Mills and the English archaeologist William Gell.

The only surviving structure of the Renaissance period residential complex is a small lodge, called "Loggetta Mattei" or the nearby "Casina Farnese", that had housed the frescoes of Baldassarre Peruzzi, and a 19th-century structure built by the sisters of the Visitation that has become the seat of the Palatine Museum.

circa 1520 CE

Frescoes of the Loggia Mattei
The frescos of the Mattei Loggie include a yellow frieze with masks frames the ceiling, decorated with grotesques against a white background. Inside are the coat of arms of the Mattei family (at the center), which in 1595 CE replaced that of the Stati family, and two little panels with mythological subjects against a dark background; the Marriage of Hercules and Hebe and Venus between Cupid and the Muses. Triangular compartments are decorated with roundels containing the twelve signs of the zodiac against a dark background, whilst on the corbels are little painted shrines holding six muses on the long sides and Athena and Apollo on the short sides. The wall frescoes, depicting episodes from the myth of Venus, were detached in 1846 CE and moved to the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where they can still be seen today. A few years later, the mythological scenes and the roundels with signs of the zodiac were detached and sold to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; but recently they have been re-placed in their original positions.

circa 1550 CE

Farnese Lodge
This small two-storey building known as the Casina Farnese stands on the remains of one of the nymphaeums at the side of the large triclinium belonging to the imperial palace of the Domitianic period (circa 81-96 CE). Dating to the sixteenth century CE, it was rebuilt by the Farnese family who added a two-order loggia covered with frescoes and a travertine balustrade. The painting, whcih still survive, depict bucolic landscapes on the walls and grotesques on the vaults, adorned with ovals dedicated to deities sush as Venus or muthical figures like Hercules, Cacus or the Argonauts.

circa 1550 CE

Nymphaeum of the Mirrors
The Nymphaeum of Mirrors (Ninfeo degli Specchi), also called the Farnese Nymphaeum, was part of the Farnesian secret gardens belonging to the powerful Farnese family. The structure was originally covered with a domed roof, was decorated with stalactites, mosaics and mirror-holding satyrs. The water jets, designed to surprise visitors, bounced off the dome's ceiling, providing the effect of rain.

circa 1689 CE

Church of San Bonaventura on the Palatine
The Church of saint Bonaventura and its attached Franciscan monastery is associated with the memory of Saint Leonard, who died and was buried here. The church was initially built in 1625 CE by Cardinal Francesco Barberini. It is built over Roman structures, in particular a large cistern of the Claudian aqueduct which brought water to the Palatine Hill. The Roman brick wall that separated the vineyard from the Via di San Bonaventura is decorated on its exterior with the Stations of the Cross, made of painted terracotta by A. bicchierai, and eighteenth century CE artist.

circa 1930 CE

Palatine Museum
The Palatine Museum (Museo Palatino) displays precious finds from excavations on the hill from the nineteenth century CE until the present. It was opened in arounce 1930 CE, re-adapting the nineteenth century CE Convent of the Sisters of the Visitation, in turn built on part of the imperial palace. On the underground storey of the museum the various phases of the palace foundations can be seen, whilst the upper floor hosts an exhibition of finds belonging to the sculptural decorations of the palaces,whose topography and history are also illustrated.

circa 60 CE

Inlaid Marble
The magnificient inlaid marble floor with its elegant geometrical and floral design was excavated in the early twentieth century CE together with the rooms beneath attributed to Nero's Domus Transitoria, to which it is usually though to belong. In fact the floor has a different orientation from Nero's buildings but similar to that of the nearby Augustan complex, making its attribution uncertain. The floor belonged toa hall with internal porticoes supported by columns, of which the foundations in travertine blocks survive. It is located directly adjacent (north-west) to the "eliptical nymphaeum".

circa 250 CE

Proconnesian Marble Griffons Relief
The Griffons relief is carved out of while Proconnesian marble. The style of the carving suggests that it dates back to the third century CE. It depicts two Griffons, facing each other, in heraldic posture between candelabras with triangular base. Originally the relief was part of the "Palatine Stadium" decorations.