Private Tour: Palatine Hill in Rome Including Domus Augustana

Meet your private guide in central Rome, and start your private tour with a rundown of the history of Palatine Hill. Also known as Palatino, the area holds huge historical significance as the place where Rome is said to have been founded by Romulus, many millenia ago. If there is a sight that you are really interested in, tell your guide. The tour is private, so your itinerary can be customized to your interests.

As Ancient Rome’s swankiest neighborhood, Palatine Hill was the home of emperors, who each lavished the area with palaces, gardens and monuments. See the legacy they left behind as you explore the ruins, and hear stories behind the key sights.

Stop for photos by the ancient stadium, and then visit Domus Augustana, a fascinating set of ruins that once formed the private residence of Emperor Domitian. Gaze down at the flat stretch of land of Circus Maximus, and learn about the chariot races that took place there to amuse the ancient Roman elite.

Head inside Palatine Museum to see more archaeological finds from the area, including sculptures and reconstructed palace floors. The museum is also home to models of huts that would have been in existence during the days of Romulus and Remus, around 8th century BC.

Take a break inside the museum if you wish, and then continue to the Arch of Titus on the ancient pilgrimage road of the Via Sacra. See the excavation of Casa di Augusto, the house of the first Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus with its 2,000-year-old frescoes, and Casa di Livia, the beautifully preserved home of his wife. Your tour then ends by Domus Tiberiana, with some of the best views of Ancient Rome and the Roman Forum.