Palatine Hill, Rome

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Now, I just loved the Pallatine. Just a few steps away from the Roman Forum and the Colloseum, yet so peaceful, almost deserted. Great place to sit down, rest your feet and plan the rest of the day... or just simply enjoy the greenery. Mind you, can be a bit windy, but apart from this it's just lovely. Home of the aristocracy, and no wonder why.

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One of Rome's seven hills, the Palatine Hill was ancient Rome's residential area for the most important. Today, it is a large archeological park planted with Pine trees around half excavated Roman ruins. The Palatine Hill is located between the Circo Massimo and the Roman Forum. It can be entered (for a fee) from the Roman Forum. The Park is a most relaxing place and one could visit, not only to see the ruins, but also to spend a quiet afternoon. Some of the ruins include the Domus Flavia, Domus Augustana and the Palace of Septimius Severus.

Palatine Hill was the site of the earliest latin settlement in Rome. It became the residence of Rome's ruling class and was the birthplace of Augustus. The homes of Augustus and his wife are still well perserved. It is worth the climb to Palatine just to see the gardens, which are beautiful.

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Underneath the gardens is a long tunnel which may have been a secret route to other parts of the palatine. It is often attributed to Nero, but part may be earlier, part of the Domus Tiberiana, as it is thought that this was the site of the murder of Emperor Caligula in AD41.

It's a lovely cool spot, it would be nice to linger there on a hot day.

From the Arch of Titus, the road leads up to the Palatine Hill, where the imperial rulers of Rome lived in luxury. Follow the paths and steps up to the Farnese Gardens, which were pleasure gardens laid out in the 16th century for Cardinal Farnese over the ruins of the Palace of Tiberius.

From what I have read, scholars aren't certain what the name of the hill means - it may derive from 'palus' (marsh or swamp, apparently quite descriptive of the area of the Forum Romanum before it was drained), or it may stem from 'pales', an old pastoral deity. Later, the word 'palatium' was associated as much with the imperial palaces as with the hill, and this eventually became the word 'palace'.

One of the lovely things about the Palatine is that it is a park where you can wander in any direction you please. On the other hand, it is a large park without signposts, and very few labels, so it could be very confusing for the first-time visitor to know exactly what they are looking at. I advise you to have a map handy!

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If you visit the Colosseum, your ticket will also let you visit the Palatine (entrance in the Forum area). The site of the original 'Rome', prehistoric remains have been excavated as well as the huge Roman palaces up here (although some may be closed for restoration) . The museum shows both roman and pre -Roman artefacts, which helps to put the whole city into some sort of archaeological perspective.

Buy some lunch and take it up the hill. Explore the palaces, gaze over Rome spread out at your feet (fantastic views) and take a rest in the shady formal gardens. Enjoy!

Mitic place associated to Rome foundation, because is where lived the she-wolf who looked after to Romulo and Remo, foundres of Rome. Here have been discovered rest of the first humans assent on century IX b.c. It was the most wanted place to live during the republic and the empire. Emperors built here big residences to live.

Sitio mitico asociado a la fundacion de Roma porque aqui es donde vivia la loba que cuido de Romulo y Remo, fundadores de Roma. Aqui han sido descubierto restos de los primeros asentamientos humanos. Fue el sitio mas deseado para vivir durante la epoca de la republica y los emperadores, muchos de ellos construyeron residencias para vivir.

Beyond the gardens, in the south-west corner of the hill, excavations have revealed the oldest traces of a settlement in the city (8th century BC). The floors and post-holes of iron age huts are cut into the bedrock - the largest hut plan measures 5 by 3.5m, a slightly oval rectangle.