The elaborate rooms surrounding the peristyle alternated between open and closed spaces, suited to public use and perhaps several social groups. Other sources suggest a temple was built on the island, namely a temple of Minerva. The 3rd Peristyle was filled almost completely with a huge pool as wide as that of the Domus Flavia and included a seascape perhaps of Greek mythology on an island connected to the side via a bridge with several arches, and with sculptures in the water. The 2nd Peristyle garden is partly exposed but little is known of its architecture. The southern section was built a little later and some details suggest that it was not Rabirius who directed the work.
The Domus Augustana is built on two levels, the upper northern one consisting of the two peristyles to the north on the same level and closely linked to the Domus Flavia and therefore probably having public functions. The central section of the palace (labelled "Domus Augustana" in the diagram) consists of at least four main parts: the "2nd Peristyle" to the northeast, the central "3rd Peristyle", the courtyard complex and the exedra on the southwest. Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.Domus Augustana: P2: 2nd peristyle P3: 3rd peristyle Co: courtyard Ex: grand exedra S: Stadium Tr: Tribune of the Stadium Previous to the site’s closure, visitors numbered over 1,000 per day. Groups will be limited to 25 people at a time and must be booked in advance. That includes plans to displace the weight of the gardens and the Baths of Trajan that now sit at street level, on top of Nero’s architectural masterpiece.Īrchaeologists are also attempting to protect the palace’s frescoes, which inspired Renaissance masters Michelangelo and Raphael, from damage due to high humidity levels in the cavernous structure. Costs are estimated to tally €31 million in total by the time work has been finished. The Italian government has already poured over €18 million into restoration efforts at the site. “But we wanted to explain to people what we’re doing so that they can participate.” “We don’t want people to think that we’ve resolved all the problems of the Domus Aurea,” Fedora Filippi, the site’s scientific director told the New York Times. Visitors will be forced to wear hardhats in the event of further structural faults, but will get an intimate look at the work being done.
Archeologists will continue to work on the Domus Aurea during the week. Visitors will now be able to enter the site on the weekends. It briefly reopened in 2007 but was then closed again after several cave-ins were reported. However, structural issues forced it to be closed to the public in 2005. The site was initially opened to visitors in 1999. It takes its name from the gold leaf that once covered many of its walls. The 300-room structure, now mostly underground, was built by Emperor Nero after fires decimated much of Rome in 64 AD.
Six years into a decade-long restoration effort, Italian authorities partially reopened Rome’s magnificent Domus Aurea (House of Gold) on Sunday, Reuters reports.