Palatine Hill

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Palatine Hill I strongly recommend reading some history before visiting. Once you understand the magnificent story of Palatine Hill, the experience becomes truly magical. As you walk through the ruins, it feels as if the entire Roman Empire unfolds before your eyes. This is where Rome was born, where emperors lived, ruled, and shaped the fate of the ancient world. Knowing who walked these paths before you transforms the visit into something deeply emotional and unforgettable. The atmosphere is powerful, the views over the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus are breathtaking, and every stone seems to carry centuries of history. This is not just a place to see — it is a place to feel. An absolute must-visit for anyone who wants to truly understand Rome.

Great experience at the Palatine Hill. I love the orange tree garden and the fountain. It was amazingly resouceful. A beautiful view on the colyseum and the forum qs well. Too bad about the queue even if we bought a skip the line pass..

The Palatine Hill Explore the ruins: Wander through the remains of imperial palaces like the Domus Flavia and the Domus Augustana, as well as temples such as the Temple of Apollo. Visit the House of Livia: See the well-preserved House of Livia, which belonged to Augustus's wife. Enjoy the views: Take in the stunning panoramic views of the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus from the top of the hill. See the Farnese Gardens: Stroll through the Farnese Gardens, the first private botanical garden in Europe, which was created in the 1550s.

Visited Palatine hill yesterday, walking around the area, thought it would be a short walk around the hill, this led to the Forums and even a Museum, it turned out to be quite a leggy walk! This is probably apart of a description that the hill leads onto this, but we didn't know and it turned out to be quite a nice surprise.

Amazing to see the palace grounds and get a sense of the scale of the palace. Our tour guide was excellent. Circle sections were closed for restorations, unfortunately.

An amazing garden and sculptural walk, to enjoy a rich history still alive and well. Go early beat the crowds enjoy the peace and serenity.

Definitely a must see! Beautiful architecture and vast history. I only regret I didn’t get a guide or an earphone guide. AI guide with Gemini was awful

Definitely worth checking out if your buying Colosseum tickets add this on. Very cool to see, lots of great walking paths and buildings to see. Spent more time here than in the Colosseum. So much history

Another amazing Roman landmark! This is a must see while in Rome! Seriously, it is spectacular. I don't say that about a lot of things lol Bit this historical landmark has earned that kind of praise. It's gorgeous seeing Palatino and the ruins. The arch's and green grass. There's something so majestic about the entire scene.

When traveling to Rome, the ruins are one of the highlights. The Colosseum gets a lot of love. The Forum and the Palatine (Palatino) complete the trifecta. Rome is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, especially during the summer, so you have to plan ahead. Your tickets include access to all three historical sites. And you should book your ticket online weeks in advance. If you don't, you risk not being able to visit at all or paying an arm and a leg to purchase a ticket through a third party. Don't be one of those people. Palantino has the most trees out of the three sites which means the most shade. This is important as Rome can get scorching hot during the summer. Make sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of water when you visit. You'll be traveling a lot checking out the ruins from the hill. There's a decent amount to read so immerse yourself in the experience and imagine what it would have been like to live in Ancient Rome.

The Palatino, aka Palatine Hill, is the birthplace of Rome. This is where Romulus supposedly founded the city and where the ancient Rome's emperors lived in luxury. I think it's totally worth visiting, and you still can explore the ruins and image how it was back to thousands of years ago.

The entrance for this is not timed, and we booked the package through roma Pass, but you can also book it through the official website, and it'll work out cheaper. If you have three days to spend in rome, then I would say go with a roma pass. We started from the Roman forum and climbed up the hill, which is not difficult to climb. Also, there are a lot of places to stop by during the climb. I would say somewhere within fifteen to thirty minutes. Once you reach the top of the hill, the view is just brilliant. You will get a nice panoramic view of the modern-day Rome . Also, that roma forum will be visible from this location, and that is worth it. It is definitely worth the hike. Got a chance to learn some history of Rome. Don't expect some standing palaces etc. But worth the view.

According to Roman mythology, twin brothers Romulus & Remus, sons of Mars, were abandoned near the Tiber River whose flood waters deposited them at the Palatine Hill. They were found and were raised by a she-wolf. Romulus eventually killed his brother and founded Rome on top of this hill and served as the first king of the Roman Empire. From the top of this hill you will see a spectacular and expansive view of Rome including the massive and impressive Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus. You can see why those in charge chose the Palatine Hill for their palaces! In ancient times this was the most sought out neighborhood and became home to a series of rulers and other aristocrats. The word "palatine" is the origin of the English word "palace" and the root of "palazzo" in Italian. Today the Palatine Hill is an extensive archaeological site where the ruins of the Flavian Palace and Stadium of Domitian can still be seen, along with the legendary Hut of Romulus. Recently they opened the House of Augustus and the House of Livia to the public and they are worth visiting for their well preserved frescoes. The Palatine Hill also has lots of grass and green space with wild flowers growing amongst the layers and layers of ruins. There are many walking paths, some covered in shade. Visit this peaceful green space to escape crowds and the blazing sun! Walking around the grounds is like an outdoor museum since ruins are everywhere. You need a ticket to enter the Palestine Hill and tickets include entry into the Colosseum and Roman Forum also. It is easiest to book online and bring your printed ticket. If you choose to purchase in person, purchase it at The Palestine Hill ticket booth on Bia Di San Gregorio because the lines are way shorter than at the Colosseum. You can do all three in a day, a very full day. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes because the ground is uneven and you cover a lot of territory. Also wear sunscreen and a hat and carry a water bottle that you can fill at the various water fountains. Visit the Palestine Hill during the hottest part of the day since it's the only one of the three that has shade.

Wow! It is a bit of a trek to get here especially after a tour of the Colosseum but it is worth the effort. You get a view of the Rome skyline from here. It is beautiful. You walk through a garden and are able to sit in some shaded area to get some rest. But the best part of this site is to catch a view of all of Rome. A perfect way to end our stay in what is a grand city. Rome is magnificent!

This review is for those who don't want to spend money, don't want to be squeezed by large crowds, don't have to see every details, and just want a relaxed experience. I've visited this place three times - once with a guided tour, once with purchased ticket, and this time just on my own. Whether you join a tour or buy an entry ticket , you will most likely be with 10,000 other tourists! Even if you choose to come during "low" season, there will be crowds. This is just one of those super iconic places that everyone wants to see. Since I can't deal with large crowds, I did "looking" online, where there's tons of photos, great explanations from history to fun facts, and just came here for some in person photos and a relaxed stroll around the area. The way to do this is to find the small trail that leads to Chiesa Bonaventura, a small church right next to Palatine Hills. Take that trail and as you ascend you'll catch some nice views of the Hill - see photos attached to this review. True, you won't be able to go inside, but you won't have to stand in long lines or run elbows / bump into hundreds of people on the ground. Instead, you can take your time and save your money for some nice pizzas !

Rome has its origins on the Palatine. Excavations show that people have lived in this area since the 10th century BC. Excavations performed on the hill unearthed a collection of huts believed to have been used for funerary purposes between the 9th and 7th century BC approximating the time period when the city of Rome was founded. Imperial palaces were built here, starting with Augustus. Before imperial times the hill was mostly occupied by the houses of the wealthy. Fifteen years so archaeologists discovered the Palatine House, believed to be the birthplace of Emperor Augustus. A section of corridor and other fragments under the Hill were found and described as "a very ancient aristocratic house." The hill originally had two summits separated by a depression; the highest part was called Palatium was approximately 63 acres.

Not far from the Colosseum so probably can bundle this with the other sites in the area here. Same feedback as the other sites here. A lot of histoty here. Cool to see the architecture still standing many years later.

I loved walking through and being immersed in so much history. Just look at the photos. A great workout too. Loved it! You can get the ticket to combine the colosseum, palatine hill and the forum. It really is amazing to see the architecture and remnants of statues and even new sculptures.

Magic! When I think of Rome this is usually one of the first places I think of. This entire area of Rome is where "living" has been concentrated for centuries and is still visible in the various layers between centuries! I have always been one to look, watch, and observe, and I've missed a lot by not reading prompts about what I'm looking at. In this case, as I strolled along, I took the time to read more and was amazed at what I learned. Things like buildings, roads, structures, and ruins that you think are related and of the same time, periods can actually be hundreds of years apart! Wow! Remember world history in school. Toss it out and take your kids to a few of these places and they will be better off! Once I returned back to Dallas I began my study of some of the history surrounding this area. It's an unlimited glimpse into the development of a people and ultimately "us" over hundreds of amazing years. I want to go back and you should too!

Palatino (aka Palatine Hill) is a must-see part of exploring the area near the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus) to see the remarkable: * Views * Ruins * History Basically, it's like an outdoor museum offering unforgettable hilltop panoramas. It took us about 90 minutes to wind our way through the majestic ruins, but I'm sure you could go slower/quicker depending on your interest level and the weather (since there isn't a lot of shade despite towering iconic pine trees). Palatino is considered the center of the "Seven Hills of Rome" and is truly one of the oldest parts of Roma because the legend is that this is the site where the twins Romulus and Remus were found by the wolf Lupa in a cave ... and thus began the story of Rome in 753 BC. Areas to explore include: * the Stadio (stadium) * the ruins of the Domus Flavia (imperial palace) * balcony of Orti Farnesiani botanical gardens for views of the Forum * Casa di Augusto (Augustus' private residence) * Casa di Livia (Augustus' wife Livia's home) * the Criptoportico Neroniano tunnel where Caligula was killed * Museo Palatino (optional) Note that access to Casa di Augusto and Casa di Livia is by tour only and requires a ticket. Museo Palatino also requires a ticket. Of course, there are many tickets available which includes all of these plus the nearby sites, so I recommend getting on of those like we did. Originally, I started this Yelp review as 4 stars, but after considering the atmospheric experience, I can't see why a visit to beautiful Palatino isn't a full 5 stars ... so, it is. The history, ruins, and views are all well worth the price, energy, and time to discover.

Beautifully scenic to roam through when in Rome! Buy the ticket with the Colosseum and this as a package so it'll be an umbrella price! Massive and it can be an all day adventure through this ancient land with classic structural pieces. I felt like I was living and alive when I was here out and about. When perusing through, it felt like I was traveling back in time and I can imagine how majestic it could have all been for them when on the grounds of this glorious place! Historically magical!

Palatine Hill is located near the entrance of the Colosseum, along with the Roman Forum. If you purchase tickets online, you can get access to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill all in one. Definitely a must see if you're going to the Colosseum, as it contains incredible viewpoints of the entire city of Rome. Best, Charlie

The centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. The Palatine Hill is an archaeological site open to the public and of course requires payment. This is where we started the colosseum tour, it was part of the "skip the line" tour which we purchased with the tour company. We booked the earliest tour due to the afternoon heat, there is not a lot of shade in this area and the sun can get quite hot. The concentration of ruins in this area really gives you a good sense of how magnificent and impressive this city was. There are restrooms at this starting point, there are also coffee shops and vendors selling water. Based on the timeframe it takes to truly experience this vast site I found it beneficial to take advantage of those starting point facilities. I was especially impressed with the ruins of the Domus Flavia (imperial palace), and grandstand views over the Roman Forum. Obviously the proximity of the colloseum played a factor in deciding the location for the palace, Palatino was the ancient city's most exclusive neighborhood. This is a very worthwhile tour. Cheers!

Buy a ticket that combines the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Forum. Though the Colosseum is an iconic wonder of the world, the Forum and Palatine Hill are just as interesting and actually take more time to explore. Some Yelp reviewers call in an "open-air museum" which is a good analogy, though you are literally walking within the ruins of the Roman Empire instead of seeing bits and pieces of history like you would find in a museum. It's more like a park filled with dozens of buildings in various states of ruin. The Palatine Hill is home to the ruins of important buildings from different periods in Rome's history such as the Palace of Domitian, House of Tiberius, and Domus Flavia. You follow a very rough walking tour that takes well over an hour to complete. In fact, it's pretty easy to get lost! Overall, I fear that many visitors to Rome will tick the Colosseum but will skip over the Forum and Palatine Hill and that is a shame because all three are equally impressive.

As anyone with cursory knowledge of ancient history will tell you, Palatine Hill was significant in the Ancient Roman Empire. It is one of the 7 hills of Rome and it is specifically this hill where the twins Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf. Romulus eventually killed his brother, founded his city on top of this hill and served as its first king. Subsequent rulers had their residences on top of this hill. As an interesting fact, "palatine" serves as the etymological origin of "palace" and other similar words in European language that depict a large residence of a head of state. The Colosseum/Palatine Hill/Roman Forum are sold as one combo-ticket (€12 through official website coopculture.it) and if you buy the ticket it gives you single-admission access to the three sites within a 48 hour period. If you're visiting the Roman ruins yourself if for some reason you didn't do advance purchase (which you should be doing), your best bet is to purchase your ticket at Palatine Hill to avoid the long lines at the Colosseum, but if you purchase your ticket there it counts as your Palatine Hill admission and no re-entry permitted. There is a bathroom near the ticket entrance as bathrooms around the area are rare and there is an area as you go up the hill that you can fill waters. Unfortunately there aren't many opportunities to catch shade on a hot day. Most guided tours that go inside the Colosseum also do the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Though most tour guides focus on the Colosseum they do give cursory information on the Roman Forum. The best part about Palatine Hill is that from the top of the hill one can get a bird's eye view on the Roman Forum down below.

This place is so overwhelmingly historical that I honestly didn't know where to start first. I recommend getting a tour to enjoy some of the contextual information of this place. I was completely blown away to see these beautiful sites from so long ago existing to this day. It's a moving experience.

Yet another historic place in Rome that has tons of architecture that's still standing. We toured this with an official tour guide (from Colosuss) and spent about an hour and a half here. You could really spend all day here with all it has to offer. The guide was very helpful in explaining all the history around the different buildings. There's quite a bit of walking here on hills, and up and down stairs--so make sure you are wearing comfy shoes, like sneakers.

Amazing! Beautiful views and amazing ruins. We did this as part of a tour so we really were able to enjoy everything we were looking at. If you do this on your own grab a map of guide book. There are so many different things to see here you can easily get overwhelmed. Be prepared for lots of walking and hills. The view from the top is AMAZING!

Was able to visit this spot thanks to the combo Colosseum ticket, and let me tell you, you will get your waking for the day done hear easily. Bring sunblock as well, as the scorching sun will burn you into a little spot on the ground if not. This is a beautiful location with many ruins of a Rome long past. It's pretty surreal to see so much history and what it has become. A tourist spot. I guess even the best of this world will fade in time, to be something someone will take pictures of for instagram, or Yelp. It's an amazing spot which I highly suggest you check out while in Rome.

This place is pretty huge. Actually, it is where the palace of the Emperor used to sit, but it is pretty much ruins these days, namely because over the centuries the place was pulled down to use a building materials for other structures (such as the church on the other side of the Tiber). A tour of the place is quite helpful as they show you all of the interesting parts of the structure, including the private racing track for the emperor, and also the emperor's throne room, which doesn't look all that magnificent anymore. However, it is helpful to try an imagine how immense this place used to be in former time.

You'll get your 10,000 daily steps here, as I did when I visited Rome in 2011. Expect a lot of hill climbing, a lot of old stuff, and a lot of possibly slippery spots if it's wet. With all that said, it is an amazing place for history going back THREE THOUSAND YEARS. So expect to see lots and lots, taking buckets of pictures and pretty much enjoying yourself for a least three or four hours at minimum. Here is my suggestion for touring the Palatine Hill. Start with the map they offer you. Sit down and get your bearings. Plan your route through the massive archaeological park. Stop often for water. (I was here in September and it was still plenty hot!) Watch your step. And take pictures. Lots and lots of them.

I LOVED THIS!! Right beside the Colosseum is Palatine Hill, which is a huge on-going live Archeological dig site, and according to our tour guide's historical lore, also the site of the wolf's cave where Romulous and Remus, the founders of the city of Rome, were saved. From the top of Palatine Hill, you get an amazing view of the ruins of the city of ancient Rome, and a great visual of how it would have looked in ancient times. Also as part of the entry cost to this place, there is a pathway to go down into the ruins of the city and get a close up view of locations like the Roman Forum, the temple of Vespa, etc. However, the grounds of Palantine Hill itself have ruins of the palace of the Roman Emperor Augustus, and also an amazing Roman Villa from around the 3rd century AD that has been partially restored so you get a glimpse of how lovely and grand it would have been during its time. There's great signage descriptions of the ruins, However I do think coming here with a guided tour would be a worthwhile expense. Also, I didn't realize the immensity of this place, so allocated only a half-day tour. I so want to come back and then will definitely spend a whole day here! Yelp 271/ 2018

The views = amazing. While the Colosseum is a great starting point, seeing Palatine Hill and the Forum were more amazing just because you can really see all the sights from the top of the hill. It's really amazing to see how Roman architecture has lasted so long. Seeing the ruins and hearing about the history of this area really makes you think twice about our first world problems back at home! If you come near dusk, bring bug spray because you will be eaten alive! Bring sunscreen for the day time as there is absolutely no shade anywhere in this area and a refillable water bottle!

This was by far my favorite part of the the Colosseum/Forum/Circus Maximus/ancient Rome complex (all of it is located pretty much next to each other). The ruins are quite impressive especially seeing so many of them concentrated all together in one small area. I lived in Turkey for 3 years and did visited other Roman towns and megacities (at the time) like Byzantium (now Istanbul), Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Aspendos, Antioch (present-day Antakya), Gaziantep, and smaller Roman and Byzantine sites like Phaesalis, Olympos, Fethiye, Kas, Myra, Demre so none of this was new to me. What I find most impressive about Rome and Palatine Hill is how the city really incorporates the ancient past into it's modern-day state. They really did a good job blending it together into something harmonious. Just take your time here, I came in the late afternoon, maybe three hours before sunset, and it was actually quite pleasant walking through the greenery and the park laid out among the ruins. The lookout point which looks out over the Forum easily has one of the best views of not only the Forum but the entire city of Rome and it's skyline. My favorite part, by far is the Farnese Gardens, given the heat and exhaustion a full day of exploring the Colosseum and Forum can induce, coming into the Farnese Gardens and lying down on the grass, underneath the trees, with other people who are also chilling out, listening the the birds and watching the multitude of butterflies fliting about, was a welcome experience.

Palatine Hills is one of the many hills of Rome. It is probably the most famous one due to its historical significance. Some tips prior to visiting, - Assuming you booked your trip ahead, prebuy your ticket online for the day you plan to visit. Buy the ticket that includes Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forums. It is only 12 euros plus a processing fee of 1.50 euros. - Wear sunscreen, very little shade! - See the Colosseum first before visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forums, you would spend the most time here and the crowds are a lot less at the other two sites. There was no queue getting into here. Palatine over looks the Roman Forum which has amazing ruins. You get really good over top shots of the Forum from here. Palatine was a bit lackluster compared to the Roman Forum and Colosseum but definitely worth the walk.

Beautiful shade with the gardens in Palatine Hill, as well as the sprawling views of the Roman Forum below make this worth the trek. You're already here, come on up and you won't be disappointed.

A must, especially if you're visiting the Roman Forum & the Colosseum. It's literally breathtaking. I liked to close my eyes and imagine it in all of its glory, how the people here used to live and love. It's really amazing to look at.

The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. According to Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the location of the cave, known as the Lupercal, where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf Lupa that kept them alive. As the legend goes, the shepherd Faustulus thereafter found the infants, and with his wife Acca Larentia raised the children. When they were older, the boys killed their great-uncle (who seized the throne from their grandfather), and they both decided to build a new city of their own on the banks of the River Tiber. Suddenly, they had a violent argument with each other and in the end Romulus killed his twin brother Remus. This is how "Rome" got its name - from Romulus. Another legend to occur on the Palatine is Hercules' defeat of Cacus after the monster had stolen some cattle. Hercules struck Cacus with his characteristic club so hard that it formed a cleft on the southeast corner of the hill, where later a staircase bearing the name of Cacus was constructed. Rome has its origins on the Palatine. Excavations show that people have lived there since approximately 1000 BC. After the immigration of the Sabines and the Albans to Rome, the original Romans lived on the Palatine. Many affluent Romans had their residences there. During the Empire (27 BC - 476 AD) several emperors resided there. The ruins of the palaces of Augustus, Tiberius, and Domitian can still be seen. Augustus also built a temple to Apollo here, beside his own palace. The Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum beneath it is a large open-air museum and can be visited on the same ticket as the Colosseum. In July 2006, archaeologists announced the discovery of the Palatine House, which they believe to be the birthplace of Rome's first Emperor, Augustus. Head archaeologist Clementina Panella uncovered a section of corridor and other fragments under Rome's Palatine Hill, which she described as "a very ancient aristocratic house." The two story house appears to have been built around an atrium, with frescoed walls and mosaic flooring, and is situated on the slope of the Palatine that overlooks the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine.

I loved this! We did this as part of our Colosseum tour - with an archeologist tour guide. I loved all the various history - it was fascinating. And it was also a photography dream. I kept lagging behind the tour group as I was so excited about all the different things to photograph. This is definitely a don't miss stop when in Rome. And, once again, I highly recommend a professional tour guide you'll get a LOT more out of it.

We toured Palatine Hill after visiting the nearby Colosseum. It's one of the oldest spots in the city and the fabled origin place of Rome's founders. The area is home to numerous ruins and some great views of the city. It's definitely worth a visit.

Be prepared to walk with comfortable shoes as its quite a big place. Their is quite a lot to see but if you have been to places like Ephesus don't spend too much time here. The Ticket for this place will also get you into Colosseum and is a great way to avoid line up at Colosseum to purchase it here and then go there. There is a lot to see and they were still excavating the area to find more historical treasure.

I've been to Ephesus in Turkey and while the ruins of Palatin are not as grand, their beauty is equally impressive. We discovered (through overhearing a tour guide), that the reason most buildings are in ruins is due to the fact that the marble (which was used to cover the bricks) were stripped bare by popes who used the marble to build churches, monuments, etc.. You see, the Romans were master builders and built things to last....their buildings were constructed in layers..... first brick and mortar, then mortar, then marble. There are several places where if you look at ground level, you can still see where the marble is still intact, but a few inches above ground level it's gone. Ephesus has retained it's marble covering, which is what makes it trump this sight. However, it is still a sight to behold and offers fantastic views of Rome from the hilltops as well as providing insight as to how people lived long ago. Not to be missed.

Beautiful! We paid to go by ourselves to tour throughout this breathtaking historical landmark. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience that I'd love to do again. I'd recommend getting a tour guide so you can learn about the history.

Fascinating ancient ruins... but seeing from a distance is just fine! My wife and I are seasoned world travelers and were driving by car throughout Italy during a month-long adventure. Happily, we had seen much of Rome years ago before it became a total money grab. Regrettably, like the Colosseum and the Forum, we found the Palatine Hill to be another Roman ruin of great historic significance that has been turned into an amusement park experience... complete with hucksters, scammers, gypsy tour guides, long lines of tourists and a 20 Euro entrance fee (or 11 Euros with a Roma Pass -- with all it's restrictions). We were happy to avoid the madness and simply used a telephoto lens for our photo memories.

The Palatine Hill, one of the famous seven hills of Rome, is included in your admission ticket to the Forum and Colosseum (the ticket office here, about 150 yards from the main ticket office, is usually less crowded.) Of course, the Palatine Hill is a must for classical history buffs. According to legend, Palatine Hill was the location of the cave where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf Lupa. But for the average visitor the Palatine Hill is probably of considerably less interest than the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. There is still active archeological excavation going on here, and it's interesting to meander up the hill before visiting the Forum.

Very amazing views. There is a garden, but watch out for the pigeons and seagulls cause they will poop on you! lol

One of the seven hills in Rome, the Palatine Hill is definitely worth a visit! Included in the ticket to the Colosseum and right next to the Colosseum, there's no reason to not visit. It's all ruins, and there's quite a bit to cover and walk around. Very interesting, and it might be a good idea to get some sort of explanation through either a guided tour or books because otherwise you're just looking at ruins that used to be buildings!

My husband and I were walking in the circus maxima and saw pat of it. We realized how big it was and were intrigued, but not enough that we wanted to go. Then, we got a group tour of the forum and Palentine hill that came with our ticket to the colusseum. I'm so glad we did. The whole thing was so impressive. The tour guide was funny and informative, and the forum and hill were way more interesting than I expected. I highly encourage a visit to both of these places. It was worth it to see all the history and hear about it.

7 Sacred Hills in ancient Roma and Palatine Hill is the most sacred! The ancient Roma mythology dictates that the birth of Roma stems from Palatine Hill and is considered the most sacred of all 7 hills. Even the name for the city was named after Romulous, after he killed his brother in a fight for control of the throne - or the story goes. Even during the reign of emperor Augustus, his wife occupied one of the houses within Palatine Hill and it was the place where divine interviention and the Roman Gods were to congregate and executre politics at their leisure. Palatine Hill is a large track of land that's really a plateau, with some uphill sections, overlooking Circus Maximus on the eastern side, while keeping tabs on the Foro itself. It was the pinnicle of Roma civilization in ancient times and where the political and economical centre of Roma was. The landscape itself is very dry and arid. You can tell that it doesn't rain all too much up here. Be prepared to walk a lot around the hill. You'll be surprised on what you'll find here. Just like the Roma Foro, the Palatine Hill has a mixture of old ruins from ancient Roma, a cemebetary ambiance, and just that feeling of it being empty. Palatine Hill was also the residential headquarters for its emperors. I thought that was particularly interesting, but not uncommon. It's not an real attraction for kids, but quite educational if they're into it. Palatine Hill has some beautiful vistas after climbing the intital set of uphills. Be farewarned though, you will need a good pair of walking shoes and a bottle of water. Be prepared to spend at least 1-2 hours, if not half of the day here, along with the Colosseo and the Roma Foro. They probably do sell stuff at some parts of the Roma Foro, but best bet would be to just bring your own goods, so you don't get gyped for overpaying for water and food options. Palatine Hill is nestled among the Roma Foro, so do both at the same time, especially when you can get in for the price of 3 (Roma Foro, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseo). Admission price is just 12 euros, so that was a good bargain, I would say. Not sure if they accept credit cards, since I used cash that October 2014 day. I was here on the 110 red Open Sightseeing Bus tour, which stops at the Colosseo, but you would have to walk to the Roma Foro / Palatine Hill entrance, which was about 100 feet away from the Colosseo. Just be aware of the pickpockets in the vicinity of the Colosseo and you should be fine. There is a garden within Palatine Hill, which was commissioned by one of the emperors and had been maintained through the centuries. Nowadays, it's part of the city of Roma and its upkeep is with the city and private entities. It's quite beautiful and quite surreal that you're in Roma and within divine upbringings. Best bet would be to come in the early morning or mid afternoon to avoid the heat and the crowds of tourists waiting to get in on the action. You might want to bring some sunblock too. I may get toasty out there, so you'd want some protection from the relentless rays of the sun. For me, it is a step back in time and I enjoyed my time here. The Roma Foro, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseo, along with Circus Maximus (similar to the Colosseo where they have sport and games), provides a glimpse into the past where the Roman empire had flourished under an imperial system. Get ready for an adventure in Rome. It's a definite spot to just reflect and remember how great a civilization Ancient Rome was, which gave humanity its greatest strengths as well as its greatest weakness. Since the Palatine Hill is closed around 1800, you can check out the Colosseo at night. It will not be open, but the Colosseo will be lite up at night. Quite beautiful and a rare treat! Support local! A++

The Palatine hill overlooks the Forum Romanum on one side and the Circus Maximus on the other. It is one of the seven hills of Rome, and is the most central hill. Mythology says that the Lupercal (the cave where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf) is situated on the Palatine Hill, and excavations in January 2007 discovered an intensly decorated cavern underneath the Domus Livia (the residence of Emperor Augustus' wife). It is thought that this may actually be the Lupercal itself. It is the site of the oldest settlement in Rome, with evidence of settlements here dating as far back as 1000BC. The palaces (or ruins of) Augustus, Tiberius and Domitian, and the Flavian Palace, are all on the Palatine Hill. Also on the hill is the Hippodrome of Domitian; a small circus that may have been used as a sporting arena for foot races. You can visit the Palatine hill with a combined ticket to the colosseum. Guided walking tours of it and the neighbouring forum are definitely worth doing as the guides are very knowledgeable and point out things that you would easily miss if you were visiting by yourself.

Location: The forum and Palatine are right next to Piazza Venezia. You can get there on foot from the Centro in about 20 minutes. My suggestion is to visit the Colosseo, Palatine and the Foro on the same day, and end the afternoon with a visit to the Capitoline Museum. Personally, I opted to visit all three sites with a tour guide because I was interested in the historical aspects behind them. These three sites were definitely in my favorite top 10 - they are all remarkably well-preserved and just bloody awesome! If you're a photographer like me, then you will find plenty of photo opps here. DO remember to go to Palatine Hill - it's beautiful up there and there are plenty of ruins to check out. Palatine is quite a large area so make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes. I wore my Birks because I just couldn't bring myself to wear runners in the intense heat, but be warned - you're much likelier to sprain an ankle wearing sandals than you are wearing runners! Anyway, I really enjoyed visiting this site - there are many ruins scattered throughout, and you will find one of the best views of the Colosseo from one very specific vantage point (be sure to keep an eye out for it as you start walking up). You will also find great views of the Forum as well as Circo Massimo.

Lots and lots and lots of walking. Wear comfy shoes that you don't find getting dirty (my black shoes looked more grey by the end of the day). Get a map, I'm not sure where since would bought our tickets at the Colosseum, but try to get one. We had no clue where we were going, but that just made it more fun. :) We were there at the end of October, so the weather was great. But if you're there in the summer heat, I would recommend bringing a hat (or if you're crazy like me, a sun umbrella). I'm glad we visited on our own and just explored. Next visit, I think I would get a guide to learn more about the history.

This looks down on the roman forum and the circus maximus,the views from here are fantastic There werent any big queues to get in when we went You can get your joint ticket here for the colliseum so I would go here first and then you can skip the queues They have recently uncovered an ancient grotto here but I dont think that part is open to the public yet This is were rome was started and there are ancient palaces to explore, they have fab orange trees just out of reach

Breath taking. I am still in awe of these magnificent ruins that have survived thousands of years. The palatine has some strange modern art exhibit going on that made little sense to me and took away from the historical feel honestly. We actually left and cut around to the Roma forma side and trekked up to the viewing point alongside the gardens and the view is stunning. The juxtaposition of the ruins against the modern day city of Rome is truly awe inspiring. Get your combo ticket for all three at the palatine ( no line), go late and see all three or split up over two days. See my review on colliseum

if it's a hot day, get some shade at the top sitting along the ruins. Also the line is pretty short so it's ideal to get the tickets here and use it for the forum and coliseum. It's a nice break before you venture out back into the crowds of other tourists.

A perfect way to end a long day at the Colosseum and Roman Forum. The view from the top is truly amazing and well worth it to get up there.

This area is great for taking pictures and full of history. My wife and I enjoyed seeing the places and have several wonderful photos to remember it by.