Immediately after the fire of 64 A.D., which destroyed large parts of the centre of Rome, the emperor Nero ordered the construction of a new residence, much grander and more luxurious than that which it replaced.

 Faced in high quality marble, its vaults decorated with gold and precious stones, this new residence certainly merited the name Domus Aurea (House of Gold).

Taking its inspiration from the East and incorporating innovative and original design features, the enormous complex immense vineyards, wooded glades, pastures and even an artificial lake, as well as treasures plundered from Eastern cities and precious ornaments and monuments, one of the most imposing of which was a large statue of the emperor dressed in the attire of the Sun God. After his death, Nero’s successors tried to negate and erase from history every trace of the palace.

 The luxurious rooms were stripped of their precious materials, sculptures and statues and filled with earth up to the vaults while over the building the great spas of Titus and Trojan were built. In the underlying valley the Colosseum was built and whose very name recalls a colossal statue of the emperor Nero which stood nearby.

 The fabulous frescoes and stuccos remained hidden until the renaissance when various artists, among them Raphael, interested in antiquity started to copy the decorative forms of the vaults after they had accidentally found them while exploring what they believed to be grottoes. For this reason such decorations earned the name “grotesque”. With this rediscovery came the problem of how best to conserve these treasures, which deteriorated very quickly because of humidity.

Only after the noted discoveries at Pompeii did scholars become again interested in the grotesque roman style and in 1722 Domus Aurea was excavated. Having now been reopened to the public it is possible once again to gaze upon the marvels contained here.

 NOTES: - Last Admission: 6:40PM - Museum entrance rules: You must be at the museum 15 minutes before your scheduled entrance time to redeem your tickets - Your reservation vouchers will be delivered to you only after we process your request and confirm the reservation.
At a minimum it takes from 1 to 2 business days to process your request - You will receive your vouchers by fax or e-mail if you will be leaving home too soon for the vouchers to be shipped.

This tour is not recommended for children, claustrophobics or those with limited mobility. The tour will require the climbing of scaffolding. Hard hats will be provided, and must be worn throughout the tour.