2023-09-21 16:42:02
ROME (AP) — A former Roman imperial palace, atop the Palatine Hill, reopened to the public Thursday following nearly 50 years of restoration work.
The Domus Tiberiana, a palace from almost 2,000 years ago, was the residence of several Roman emperors. From its interior there are splendid views of the Foro Italico at the foot of the mountain.
Years of structural work to shore up the palace included excavations that unearthed numerous artifacts from centuries of Roman life following the decline of the empire.
The director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, which includes the Palatine Hill, wrote that the structure is “the palace of power par excellence.”
On the eve of the reopening, director Alfonsina Russo cited a first-century Roman poet who said the sprawling palace seemed “infinite” and “its grandeur was equal to the grandeur of the sky.”
Although the domus, or residence, is named following Tiberius, who ruled the empire following the death of Augustus, archaeological studies indicate that the foundations date back to the era of Nero, shortly following the fire of 64 AD that destroyed much of it. from the city.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the residence suffered many years of neglect until the 16th century, when the Farnese noble family created a huge garden around the ruins.
Upon reopening, visitors will have a panorama of the path taken by the emperors and their courts to the domus.
The domus, on the northwestern slope of the mount that is one of the seven hills of ancient Rome, is considered to be the first authentic imperial palace. In addition to the emperor’s residence, it included gardens, places of worship, the accommodation of the Praetorian Guard that protected the monarch, and a quarter for the workers who took care of the Forum.
Excavation and restoration work, which continued during the coronavirus pandemic when tourism was reduced to a minimum, allowed archaeologists to piece together what Russo calls centuries of history in a place that “for some reason fell into oblivion.” .
Visitors will be able to see a selection of the hundreds of artifacts found, such as metal and glass objects, sculptures, decorations and coins.
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