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Nero is remembered as the insane and infamous emperor of Rome. He is known for persecuting the early Christians and for his bizarre shenanigans that eventually led to his being overthrown. But there is more to learn about him. In 64 AD, a massive fire destroyed much of the ancient city of Rome (which he blamed on the Christians). In the aftermath, there were extensive (crazy even) reconstruction efforts in Rome led by Nero.

One of the most notable complexes built by Emperor Nero is Domus Aurea, which people can still see in Rome today. The Domus Aurea is also called the Golden House and is considered the most extravagant construction in the history of ancient Rome. It is even more decadent and impressive than the massive Hadrian's Villa just out of Rome and may have been more eye-catching than the Diocletian Palace in Split, Croatia.

Ancient roman paintings and wall art inside the Domus Aurea
Steve Heap / Shutterstock
 
Ancient roman paintings and wall art inside the Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea: Nero's Extravagant & Decadent Party Villa

The palace had a massive golden dome and its ceilings were filled with semi-precious stones while the complex was furnished with ivory, mosaics, an artificial lake, and pools.

Domus Aurea became the most ostentatious palace that no king, emperor, or consul of Rome had ever dreamed of. It was all part of Nero's grand plans to rebuild the city of Rome into a new city called "Neropolis". The Domus Aurea had some 300 rooms and the whole complex would have spanned some 50 hectares.

  • Rooms: 300 Rooms

It was exclusively used as a party villa - apparently, none of those 300 rooms were used as bedrooms. Perplexingly, excavations are yet to discover a kitchen or latrine in the complex.

The was also a massive 120-foot statue of the insane emperor Nero by the palace which is said to have been modeled on the lost Colossus of Rhodes (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Its face was later changed and moved by Hadrian to outside the Flavian Amphitheater (aka the Colosseum of Rome). The massive bronze statue has been lost with time - perhaps it toppled during the Sank of Rome in the 5th century (the largest written mention of it was from the late 4th century). Today only the remains of some blocks of the pedestal remain.

Domus Aurea Roman ruin in Rome Italy
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Domus Aurea Roman ruin in Rome Italy

Related: Roman Baths In Germany Are The Largest Outside Of Rome

The Short History Of The Embassing Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea was built on Oppian Hill, and it was almost completed when Nero committed suicide as he was overthrown in 68 AD. It is a testament to Roman engineering just how fast the massive project was completed in a such short time. Nero was the fifth emperor of Rome and reigned from AD 54 to AD 68 after succeeding Emperor Claudius when he was only 13 years old.

  • Built: AD 64-68
  • Destroyed: AD 104

Domus Aurea was completed by Nero's successors. It was then used by the emperors until it was destroyed in a fire in 104 under the reign of emperor Trajan. Following Nero's demise, Domus Aurea became a symbol of decadence and an embarrassment to the succeeding emperors. It was later stripped of its ivory, jewels, and marble.

Domus Aurea, built by Emperor Nero in Rome, in the Roman Forum
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Domus Aurea, built by Emperor Nero in Rome, in the Roman Forum

Much of the complex and grounds were later buried by Trajan and built over. Monuments built on it included the Baths of Titus, the Flavian Amphitheater, the Baths of Trajan, and the Temple of Venus and Roma (Rome's largest temple, which people can tour). After only 40 years, the opulent and decadent palace that was associated with the emperor who had been declared the enemy of the people had all but disappeared.

The upshot is that by being buried, parts of the structure were preserved - including the wall paintings that were then protected from moisture.

Related: Visit The Baths Of Diocletian: The Largest Ancient Baths In Rome

Planning A Visit To Domus Aurea - Rome's Greatest Party House

Today, the remains of the Domus Aurea are open to the public after having been closed at different times for maintenance and work to ensure the structural integrity of the ruins. Unfortunately, the Palatine section of the Domus was destroyed and only the Esquiline Wing survives on the cliffs on the Oppian ridge. This part had two Blocks - the East and West Blocks. The West Block had two floors and the first floor was excavated in the early 1900s. Currently, it is that part that is open to the public.

Visitors need to reserve a tour to visit the Domus Aurea. During the tour, visitors can discover the ancient paintings buried in the 'caves' or rooms that had been buried.

  • Cost: 20 Euro ($22)
  • Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 6.15 pm Friday to Sunday
Domus Aurea Ruins in Rome
Dreamstime
Domus Aurea Ruins in Rome

The tours are available in both Italian and English and admission is only with a guide. The group sizes are limited to a maximum of 23 people (including guides) for each 15-minute time slot.

Note that as the domus is buried, it can be cool, and the average temperature is around 10 degrees Celsius.