Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea, meaning “House of Gold” in Italian, was the residence of Emperor Nero following a devastating fire that destroyed much of central Rome in 64 AD. He wanted a new dwelling that was both lavish and grandiose, and to achieve this he enlisted the architects Severus and Celer. Once completed, the construction was a true imperial palace, comprising a series of separate buildings connected by gardens and woodlands, and even featuring an artificial lake, situated roughly where the Colosseum now stands.

The entire estate sprawled across two of Rome’s seven hills: the Palatine and the Oppian. With its sumptuous decorations, stuccowork, marble and gold leaf, the Domus Aurea represented the height of luxury in ancient Rome. Moreover, among its amenities were baths fed by both spring and sulphur water, a revolving banqueting hall and an enormous statue depicting Nero as the Sun God.

Unfortunately, the Domus Aurea was short-lived: after Nero’s death, his successors decided to erase all traces he had left in Rome. The magnificent halls were first stripped of all artworks and sculptures, then buried under earth to serve as foundations and supports for other houses and buildings.

This, whilst difficult to accept, proved a blessing in disguise, as the rooms of the Domus Aurea, rediscovered in recent times, have been preserved in remarkably intact condition. Today the Domus Aurea is an unmissable stop on any Rome tour, and forms part of the Colosseum Archaeological Park.

Things to do at the Domus Aurea

The visitable sections of the Domus Aurea are located on the Oppian Hill, and represent spaces that were almost certainly designed for parties and banquets. Buried after Nero’s death and used as support for the Baths of Trajan, they remained intact until the Renaissance, when they were used by artists passionate about ancient art to copy the decorative motifs they contained.

Among them were Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio and Raphael, who pioneered the movement of grotesque painting, which consists of reinterpreting the decorative motifs of the ancient Romans. The name derives from the word “grotto”, as the rooms of the Domus Aurea were essentially underground caves.

Following restoration work that began in the 1970s and was only completed in 2015 after various complications, the Domus Aurea is now finally open to the public and can be visited in its principal rooms.

Octagonal Hall

The octagonal hall is the most famous room in the Domus Aurea: a large chamber overlooking a series of rooms, topped with an octagonal dome and an enormous skylight allowing daylight to filter through. A true masterpiece of Roman architecture, it overlooks two principal dining rooms, two apartments and a range of side spaces.

Tickets for the Domus Aurea

Domus Aurea tickets are purchased directly online; admission also includes a virtual reality guided tour, called the Domus Aurea Experience. Discounts are available for young people aged 7 to 12, school teachers of all levels, groups and students enrolled in fine arts academies, architecture degree courses and cultural heritage conservation programmes.

In addition, entry is free for children under 6, disabled visitors and their companions, licensed tour guides, Italian and foreign journalists with accreditation, and military and law enforcement personnel on duty.

Opening hours

The Domus Aurea is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9.15am to 5pm, with the last admission one hour before closing.

Tour slots run every 15 minutes and booking is required for visits, either online or via call centre.

Guided tours of the Domus Aurea

The guided tour of the Domus Aurea is called the Domus Aurea Experience. It allows you to relive the splendours of ancient Rome using innovative technologies such as immersive reality and video storytelling. Furthermore, visitors can use multimedia installations including video mapping and virtual reality to undertake a genuine journey back in time, employing an entirely innovative approach to technologies applied to cultural heritage.

In total, the guided tour route through the Domus Aurea site comprises 12 stages, and thanks to modern technology it’s possible to immerse yourself in Nero’s palace, rediscovering the original rooms, chambers, gardens and porticoes.

Guided tours with archaeologists, architects and conservators

Since spring 2022 it has been possible to visit the Domus Aurea accompanied by archaeologists, architects and conservators from the Colosseum Archaeological Park. There are two tour slots on Thursdays, the first at 4pm and the second at 5.30pm; each guided tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

For tours with archaeologists, architects and conservators, online booking is mandatory, where you can also find the schedule to choose a time that suits your needs.

How to get to the Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea is located along Viale della Domus Aurea in central Rome, but the site is accessed by entering the Oppian Hill park, from the Via Labicana side. It’s very easy to reach by underground as it’s close to the Colosseum and therefore to the Line B station of the same name. Alternatively, buses 51, 85 and 87 serve the area, as does tram 3.

Tips and frequently asked questions for your visit

To visit the Domus Aurea it’s important to wear comfortable shoes and suitable clothing, as the temperature inside the monument is around 10 degrees Celsius. Take care in summer, when the temperature difference between outside and inside can exceed 25 degrees. We recommend bringing a jumper, scarf or wrap.

Objects cannot be brought inside the Domus Aurea, and there is no cloakroom service. Be mindful if travelling with rucksacks or luggage – we suggest leaving them at your hotel or at a private luggage storage facility.