Opened in 2010, the Domus Romane at Palazzo Valentini is a remarkable underground archaeological museum that offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient Roman life.
Discovered beneath the Renaissance-era Palazzo Valentini, the ruins are of two luxurious Roman houses (domus). They are believed to date from the 1st to 4th centuries AD.
These remarkable ruins, uncovered during palazzo renovations in 2005, offer a rare peek into the opulence of ancient Rome. You’ll travel 23 feet underground to see them.
>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket
Excavations revealed two ancient Roman homes complete with intricate mosaics, wall decorations, and marble. The two villas once occupied about 20,000 square feet. They had running water, a swimming pool, and full scale thermal baths.
Judging from the expensive materials in the domus and its central location, archaeologists speculate that they were owned by high ranking members of Roman society, perhaps senators.
On a visit, you walk over the ruins on glass pathways.
You’ll see the walls of the villas, a Roman road, imperial rooms, fragments of floors, a room with original marble, mosaics, and ancient statues that were left in situ. One ancient staircase is bigger than one found in Pompeii.
But you’re not just peering at scant ruins and fine mosaics. No!
Palazzo Valentini comes complete with a well curated sound and light show. It recreates the ruins and makes them come to life.
The guided tour uses computer-generated lighting, projections, and sound effects. It was the first multimedia initiative at an archaeological site in Italy.
The presentations spotlight the ruins and help you visualize what the villas would have looked like, including the furnishings and decorations. You’ll be plunged into the heart of Ancient Rome.
At the end of the tour, you’ll see a 3D recreation of how the entire site would’ve appeared in imperial times (video below).
I found it to be an incredibly unique experience. It trains your mind to recreate decorations from ruins. And people on my tour exclaimed how “fantastic” and “cool” it was.
At the end of your visit, you’ll pass through a series of tunnels and air raid shelters from 1939.
This area has been repurposed as a museum. And artifacts from the digs are on display.
Practical Guide & Tips For Palazzo Valentini
Address: Foro Traiano 85. Palazzo Valentini is located near Piazza Venezia and Trajan’s Column, in the heart of historic Rome. When you’re done, I recommend a visit to Trajan’s Market, which is right next door.
Hours:
Open daily, except Tuesday. On weekdays, the tours are every hour from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. On weekends, tours leave from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Arrive at the ticket office 15 minutes in advance to check in and pick up your audio guide and earphones.
Tickets:
12 euros. If you book online, there is a 1.50 euro reservation fee. The ticket price includes headphones in English (other languages are available too). It’s narrated by a famous Italian archaeologist, Piero Angelo.
Admission is included in the Roma Pass. You can also book a ticket on Get Your Guide.
You can only visit on a one hour guided tour, not solo. In high season, I would pre-book a ticket a few weeks in advance.
In off season, you can show up 15 minutes in advance and they should have space. I was able to walk right in in early December.
Pro Tips:
Most of the ruins are covered by glass walkways. I noticed quite a few people who seemed a bit unsettled walking on them. But you get used to them as you proceed.
Some of the spaces are also tight and dark. And there are quite a few people on the tour. So if you tend toward claustrophobia, you may want to pass.
Large bags or backpacks are not be allowed, and there is a place to check them. Unlike what I had read online, photos are absolutely allowed (with no flash).
Is Palazzo Valentini Worth Visiting?
I enjoyed the show and the context it provided.
It’s a good primer for seeing other archaeological sites and getting a sneak peek at how the Roman nobility lived. Though the mosaics are not as intact as places like Villa Romane del Casale in Sicily.
I think kids would really enjoy the show. And there’s a well stocked bookstore with both adult and kids books on Ancient Rome and archaeology.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Palazzo Valentini. You may find these other Rome travel guides useful:
- 8 ways to spend 1 day in Rome
- 3 day itinerary for Rome
- 4 day itinerary for Rome
- 5 day itinerary for Rome
- Best museums in Rome
- Hidden gems in Rome
- Archaeological sites in Rome
- Guide to the Borghese Gallery
- Guide to Palatine Hill
- Guide to the Roman Forum
- Guide to the Colosseum
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