Heading to Rome and eager to explore some jaw-dropping ancient ruins? You’re in the right place!
This guide will take you through the imperial palaces of ancient Rome—where the emperors lived large in ways that make today’s mansions look tiny.
These palaces weren’t just homes. They were grand symbols of Rome’s power and the emperor’s supreme status.
Each palace has its own story, offering a glimpse into the unimaginable wealth and luxury of imperial life.
While many are now ruins, you can still see the grandeur that remains—breathtaking frescoes, stunning artifacts, and impressive structures.
Ready to dive into the world of Rome’s most famous emperors?
Let’s take a tour through history and see where they lived, ruled, and left their mark in Rome.
Palaces Of Ancient Rome
Domus Aurea (Nero’s Golden House)
Emperor Nero built Domus Aurea after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64.
It once sprawled over 300 acres—a true pleasure palace. The walls and facade were dripping with luxury, covered in frescoes, gold leaf, mosaics, pearls, and marble.
In the right light, the entire palace had a golden glow. It was Nero’s monument to his own ego, packed with over-the-top features and gimmicks.
For everyday Romans, it must have felt like something out of a Vegas dream, all size and sparkle.
But this wealth didn’t last long. As Nero’s excesses and tyranny spiraled out of control, his palace became a symbol of everything wrong with his reign.
After Nero’s death, his rivals wasted no time condemning both the emperor and his lavish creation.
Within a decade, the palace was looted, destroyed, and filled in with brick. Yet, the vibrant frescoes clung to the walls, too stubborn to be removed.
Then, in the late 15th century, a young man accidentally fell into a hidden chamber. To his surprise, he found himself surrounded by breathtaking ancient paintings.
And now, you can experience the Domus Aurea in a whole new way—through a virtual reality tour. This immersive experience brings Nero’s grand palace back to life, allowing you to see the frescoes and golden halls as they would have appeared in their prime!
There are limited spots, so you’ll want to book a skip the line ticket in advance. You can also book a ticket on Tiqets or book a 2 hour guided tour.
House of Augustus
The residence of Emperor Augustus on the Palatine Hill is one of my favorite places to visit in Rome!
While modest compared to later imperial palaces, it’s famous for its beautiful Pompeiian frescoes.
The House of Augustus opened to the public in 2014, after years of excavation. It’s still considered a fairly “new” attraction, with limited access.
You’ll need a SUPER ticket or guided tour to get in.
When you visit, you’ll explore three main areas: Augustus’ private apartment, the public rooms, and his study.
This imperial palace in Rome is famous for its stunning red Pompeian frescoes. These are some of the best-preserved frescoes in all of ancient Rome, rivaling even those in Pompeii.
Most of the frescoes are done in the Second Pompeian Style, also called the “Architectural Style.” This style became popular in Pompeii and was later embraced by Augustus.
It features intricate architectural elements like columns, faux marble, and arches, creating the illusion of depth. Artists used perspective to make the walls look almost three dimensional.
The most impressive frescoes are in the Pine Room, the Room of the Masks, and the Room of the Perspective Paintings—all named after the motifs you’ll see on the walls.
For the best experience, I recommend visiting during one of the multimedia shows. They run three times a day at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 2:30 pm.
You’ll watch a five minute introductory video that brings the palace to life with sound, projections, and lighting.
It’s a fantastic way to truly appreciate the beauty of this historic site.
I also highly recommend this guided tour with a PhD. I had an excellent guide.
House of Livia
If you snag a special SUPER ticket to visit the House of Augustus, you’ll also get to explore the House of Livia—the home of Augustus’ third wife, Livia.
Their love story is pretty dramatic. Augustus fell head over heels for Livia, and they both divorced their spouses to be together.
Livia’s son from her first marriage, Tiberius, went on to become Augustus’ heir and the second emperor of Rome.
Livia’s house was first uncovered in 1839. Her name was found stamped on a lead pipe, so we know it was hers.
Built in the 1st century BC, her house was actually bigger and fancier than Augustus’ place.
In the dining room, there was an absolutely beautiful garden fresco that made the walls feel like they opened into nature, with trees, flowers, and birds painted in soft shades of purple, blue, yellow, and white.
The original fresco is now at the Palazzo Massimo museum. But there’s a replica in the House of Livia itself.
The best-preserved part of the house is the atrium and three connected rooms.
The main room, called the tablinum, was the most elaborately decorated. It’s known as the Room of Polyphemus, with frescoes depicting scenes from mythology, including Mercury kidnapping the nymph Io.
The House of Livia recently reopened to the public as of July 2024 after significant restoration work.
Domus Transitoria
Emperor Nero built this imperial palace in Rome early in his reign, before the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64.
Domus Transitoria was Nero’s first attempt at an imperial palace, intended to link the Palatine Hill to the Esquiline Hill.
The name “Transitoria” comes from its purpose as a “transitional house,” meant to allow easy movement between Nero’s properties on different hills.
It was an incredibly luxurious palace, known for its opulent decorations, with stunning frescoes, intricate mosaics, and lavish courtyards. The palace even featured advanced architectural techniques and hydraulic systems for water features, pools, and fountains.
Much of the Domus Transitoria was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64. After the fire, Nero replaced it with the even grander Domus Aurea, which overshadowed this earlier palace.
Some remains of the Domus Transitoria have been excavated on the Palatine Hill. Visitors can explore its ruins and get a glimpse of the magnificent frescoes and mosaics that survived.
You can also visit the Palatine Museum to see artifacts from the palace.
Domus Transitoria recently reopened to the public after restoration. But it’s only available on a limited basis.
If you have the Forum-Palatine ticket, you can visit as part of a timed, guided tour from Friday to Monday. The visit includes a multimedia and virtual reality experience that brings the ancient rooms and lavish decorations back to life.
Domus Tiberiana
Emperor Tiberius built Domus Tiberiana as his primary residence. Construction began in the early 1st century, with later expansions by subsequent emperors.
It was one of the first imperial palaces built after Augustus. It was used by several emperors following Tiberius and became part of the larger complex of palaces on the Palatine.
Domus Tiberiana was a grand structure with extensive courtyards, reception rooms, and terraces that overlooked the Roman Forum.
It was situated on the northern edge of the Palatine Hill. Like other imperial palaces, it had luxurious rooms decorated with frescoes and mosaics.
After 50 years of evacuation, it opened to the public in September 2023. I visited it right after it opened and what a treat!
Visitors are currently limited to the ground floor, as the second level hasn’t been stabilized for public access yet.
During their digs, archaeologists unearthed hundreds of precious artifacts — terracotta, frescos, stuccos, pottery and statues relating to the cults of Isis, Dionysus, and Mithras.
They’re in the onsite museum.
To walk down these ancient paths, you’ll need to purchase a special SUPER ticket. Individual tickets are not available.
Domitian’s Palace
This sprawling imperial palace complex in Rome was built as the official residence of Emperor Domitian. You can see bit and pieces of it on Palatine Hill.
It served as both a public and private space for the emperor’s administrative and personal life.
Domus Flavia was the part of the palace used for official business and public ceremonies.
It had large reception halls, banquet rooms, and courtyards, including the Aula Regia (audience hall) and a stunning peristyle courtyard.
Domus Augustana is the section that was Domitian’s private residence. It was smaller but still luxurious, featuring living quarters, gardens, and terraces overlooking the Circus Maximus.
Though much of the palace is in ruins, you can still see the layout, including the large courtyards, walls, and sections of the Domus Flavia’s halls.
Hadrian’s Villa
Hadrian’s Villa, built between 118 and 133 A.D., is a massive archaeological treasure. It’s actually the largest palace complex from ancient Rome.
And the best part? It’s just a 30 minute trip from Rome, making it an easy day trip.
This sprawling complex wasn’t just a display of wealth. It symbolized the power of Emperor Hadrian, one of Rome’s most significant leaders.
Fun fact: Hadrian himself helped designed the palace, just like he did the Pantheon.
Hadrian’s Villa was originally meant to be a quiet retreat, a place where the emperor could escape the chaos of Rome.
But Hadrian loved it so much that he ended up moving in. For the last decade of his reign, he ran the empire from here. Think of it as the Roman version of Versailles.
Although it’s called a “villa,” this imperial palace is more like a mini city.
Spanning nearly 300 acres, it’s filled with around 30 impressive structures, including palaces, libraries, baths, and stunning gardens.
It’s an extraordinary glimpse into the luxury and power of ancient Rome.
>>> Click here to book a guided day trip from Rome
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the imperial palaces of Ancient Rome You may find the other Rome tax guides useful:
- 8 Ways To Spend 1 day in Rome
- 2 Days in Rome Itinerary
- 4 Days in Rome itinerary
- 5 Days in Rome Itinerary
- Hidden Gems in Rome
- Best Day Trips From Rome
- Best museums in Rome
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