The Palatine Hill in Rome where the Roman Empire was born

The Palatine Hill is the name of one of the seven hills of Rome and the site of the oldest settlement known as Roma Quadrata, which was the nucleus of the future Eternal City. Legend has it that in one of the caves on the Palatine Hill, known as Lupercal, the famous she-wolf nursed the mythical brothers Romulus and Remus.

The Palatine Hill in Rome has the oldest history

The name Palatine Hill likely derives from the goddess Pales, revered by ancient shepherds and hunters. In the Roman pantheon, Pales was a guardian deity, particularly concerned with livestock and game, and was primarily worshipped by rural and relatively humble populations. Despite this, the goddess Pales had a temple in ancient Rome, and on the symbolic anniversary of the founding of the Eternal City, celebrated on April 21, a festival known as Parilia was held in her honour. This festival involved grand feasts and offerings of honey and milk.

Recent archaeological studies unequivocally confirm that the earliest Roman settlement was indeed located on the Palatine Hill between the 10th and 7th centuries BCE. Little remains of this early settlement, but the discoveries shed light on the beginnings of the great empire that would eventually rule nearly the entire known world.

Regarding the hill’s name, there is a myth about the city of Pallantium situated beneath the hill. According to the myth, Pallantium was founded by the Greeks several decades before the Trojan War. Ewander, the son of Hermes and Carmenta, an Arcadian nymph, was the founder of Pallantium. According to the myth, Ewander taught people writing, music, laws, and introduced the worship of Greek gods. Great Greek heroes like Hercules and Aeneas supposedly visited his city, which eventually became part of Rome.

Over the centuries of Rome’s development, many temples, and palaces were built on the Palatine Hill for the most prominent residents of the city. Temples to Victoria, Jupiter Stator, and one of the best-preserved buildings on the entire hill, known as the House of Livia, possibly part of the residence of Emperor Octavian Augustus, were erected. In the spacious rooms, visitors can see beautiful ancient wall paintings and richly decorated floors. These original decorations allow one to imagine what Roman homes looked like during the heyday of the empire.

Palaces were also constructed next to the temples, such as those of Septimius Severus and Domitian, a Roman emperor from the Flavian dynasty. The flat summit of the Palatine Hill became a popular location during the rule of Octavian Augustus, marking the time when imperial palaces began to be built on the Palatine.

Visiting the Palatine Hill in Rome

Exploring the Palatine Hill in Rome is best combined with a visit to the adjacent Roman Forum, an immense public square where daily political intrigues, commercial and business meetings, religious ceremonies, and all kinds of spectacular events took place. Prepare for a journey where you will discover the true historical treasure of ancient Rome.

I, personally, recommend starting your exploration of this part of the Eternal City on the Palatine Hill because it is vast and full of attractions, so arriving with energy and ample time is advisable. Moreover, while strolling through the Palatine, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, with a beautiful sight of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

The Palatine Hill is one of the most frequently visited places in Rome. Numerous ancient monuments and ongoing archaeological excavations, where scientists from around the world are still at work, can be found here. Extraordinary ruins of homes, gardens, and Roman palaces are just a fraction of the attractions that Palatine has to offer.

I believe that without a visit to this hill, the cradle of the greatest ancient civilization, it will be challenging to understand the principles that governed life in ancient Rome. The ruins of massive villas and palaces coexist with cramped spaces for slaves whose sole purpose was to satisfy the whims of their masters. Each house in the area had anywhere from a dozen to several dozen slaves, and nearby palaces even housed several hundred slaves. The whole place pulsated with life; beautiful rustling gardens and murmuring fountains drowned out the cries and despair of those held in captivity.

Today, the Palatine is nothing but ruins, preserved in better or worse condition. Therefore, I recommend bringing a knowledgeable guide on your journey through the hill, easily found on site. You can also, for a small fee, join an existing group. Without expert historical knowledge, the Palatine is just a pile of stones and a multitude of holes in the ground.

Ogrody Farnese na Palatynie w Rzymie

The most convenient way to reach the Palatine Hill is by taking Via Nova to the Roman Forum and then turning towards Uccelliere Farnesiane, the beautiful Farnese Gardens on the Palatine. These gardens were established in 1550 by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. It was the first private botanical garden in Europe, with the only existing one before that being founded by an Italian university, albeit a little earlier.

Alessandro Farnese was a colourful and extraordinary individual. He was ordained as a cardinal by his grandfather, Pope Paul III, who recognized his intellectual and scholarly potential. As it turned out, this was a wise decision, and Alessandro Farnese is remembered as an antiquarian and admirer of ancient Roman art.

He amassed the largest collection of Roman sculptures ever held in private hands. Additionally, he purchased the northern part of the Palatine Hill, along with the ruins of Tiberius’s palace, which he restored and transformed into a summer residence. The immense windows of the Farnese villa overlook the Roman Forum and the nearby Arch of Titus.

The gardens were divided into classical squares with wells or fountains in the centre, following the ancient designs of the former palace gardens in Rome. The entire area was arranged to resemble terraces, connected by stairs running alongside a nymphaeum, a structure in ancient Rome that served as an enclosure for the termination of an aqueduct, often surrounded by natural greenery. Typically, a nymphaeum took the form of a fountain or water feature.

The stairs connecting the garden terraces culminated in the Teatro del Fontanone. The entire garden was full of mysterious and romantic passages and alleys, adorned with sculptures and benches. Unfortunately, very little remains of the Farnese Gardens today, but what you will see allows you to feel the atmosphere of the ancient times, rich and opulent.

The Farnese Gardens on the Palatine Hill are the starting point for your exploration of the rest of the Palatine, promising a great adventure if you let your imagination lead you along the ancient paths trodden by rich Roman citizens in togas thousands of years ago, as well as the inconspicuous and quietly passing slaves.

Palatine Hill in Rome – what you will see on the famous Roman hill

Today, the Palatine Hill serves as a vast park where you can stroll freely among the ruins of ancient monuments. The paths and avenues lead between the remnants, resembling portals from science fiction movies that transport us to a bygone world of opulence and wealth.

The road Clivus Palatinus leads to the hill, which is a modern term for a broad alley lying between the Roman Forum and the Palatine. In the past, this route connected both places and served as the path for solemn processions, stretching from the Via Sacra and the Arch of Titus up to the Palatine. Today, this road ends at the top of the hill, but in the heyday of Rome, it extended all the way to the Domus Augustana. Pay attention to the preserved fragments of the original road and the spot where the colossal Arch of Domitian once stood.

While strolling on the Palatine Hill, you will see remnants of an ancient world, and thanks to the local monuments, it becomes much easier to envision. The most significant ruins you will encounter include:

Of course, these are just some very intriguing monuments scattered around the Palatine Hill. But you’ll have to track down the rest yourself and then share your discoveries with us!

Information about visiting the Palatine Hill in Rome

Exploring the Mamertine Prison, Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, tour guides typically recommend allocating 3.5 hours. Personally, we spent that amount of time only at the Roman Forum, and exploring the entire area took us a whole day, but it, of course, depends on your pace.

Guided groups are well-organized, and the entire tour proceeds smoothly without hitches, unless you encounter a persistent and curious person who might be turning their head with “irrelevant questions,” as a tourist from London accused me. I explained to her that knowledge of whether we are currently looking at a palace or an ancient outhouse is quite significant.

Palatine Hill in Rome ticket prices

Prices for tickets that allow you to visit Palatine Hill are best purchased as part of a package with the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other historical attractions in Rome.

There are many packages available, and you can buy them online, for example, through this link, where they are always offered at the most attractive prices.

The most popular packages include:

• Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Mamertine Prison, where you’ll see the ancient prison believed to have held Saint Peter — Ticket price is 26 euros.
• Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with an additional video guide included — Ticket price is 22 euros.
• Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill with priority entrance to the Colosseum — Ticket price is 17 euros.

Also remember that you can purchase the ticket in various options, as well as in combination with other attractions. Often, collective tickets are much cheaper and therefore more profitable than tickets purchased for individual attractions.

Palatine Museum on the Palatine Hill in Rome

The Palatine Museum, known to Italians as Museo Palatino, is located in the central part of the Palatine Hill, right next to the ruins of the historic palaces Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana.

It is a small and relatively unassuming museum, but I highly recommend visiting it, as the artefacts and objects gathered here from nearby archaeological excavations are extremely valuable and unique. In several museum rooms, you will see sculptures, frescoes, as well as mosaics and reliefs, along with many other historical treasures.

Palatine Hill in Rome information and curiosities

• The first Romans lived on the Palatine Hill.
• Traces of the first dwellings discovered on the Palatine Hill date back to the 10th century BCE.
• On the Palatine Hill in Rome, celebrations of the famous festival Lupercalia took place, which served as a model for today’s Valentine’s Day.
• Legend has it that on the Palatine Hill, the mythical brothers Romulus and Remus were raised.
• The Palatine is a hill rising over 50 meters above sea level.
• After the fall of Rome, the Palatine fell into ruin and was forgotten. The hill regained its splendour during the Italian Renaissance.
• The Palatine Hill is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Exploring the Palatine Hill is best combined with other attractions in this part of Rome, such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Polish version