Palatine

While we had visited the Forum on earlier occasions, we had not ventured up the nearby Palatine Hill (whence comes our word "palace"). Its best known attractions are the views, the vestiges of earliest Rome and "Romulus' hut," Augustus' palace, and the emperors' stadium.

Looking down the hill toward the Coliseum and Arch of

Constantine

And in the distance, the Vatican

Post-holes like these go back to the 8th century BCE, the

time of the traditional founding of Rome; thus, what was

reverred even in ancient times as Romulus' hut

Model of mud-hut Rome in the Palatine museum

Interior of remains of Augustus' palace

Ceiling vault

More interior decoration

Ditto, detail

Top of Palatine Hill

Emperors' stadium