Ancient 'Power' Palazzo on Rome's Palatine Hill Reopens to Tourists

Visitors admire the newly restored domus Tiberiana, one of the main imperial palaces, during the press preview on Rome's Palatine Hill, in Rome, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Visitors admire the newly restored domus Tiberiana, one of the main imperial palaces, during the press preview on Rome's Palatine Hill, in Rome, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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Ancient 'Power' Palazzo on Rome's Palatine Hill Reopens to Tourists

Visitors admire the newly restored domus Tiberiana, one of the main imperial palaces, during the press preview on Rome's Palatine Hill, in Rome, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Visitors admire the newly restored domus Tiberiana, one of the main imperial palaces, during the press preview on Rome's Palatine Hill, in Rome, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

An ancient Roman imperial palazzo atop the city's Palatine Hill was reopened to tourists on Thursday, nearly 50 years after its closure for restoration.

The nearly 2,000-year-old Domus Tiberiana was home to rulers in the ancient city’s Imperial period. The sprawling palace allows for sweeping views of the Roman Forum below.

The public is now able to tour it, following decades of structural restoration work to shore the palace up for safety reasons. Excavations uncovered artifacts from centuries of Roman life following the decline of the empire.

The director of the Colosseum Archeological Park, which includes the Palatine Hill, in a written description of the restored palazzo, dubbed it “the power palace par excellence.”
On the eve of the reopening, the official, Alfonsina Russo, quoted a first-century Roman poet as saying the sprawling palace seemed “infinite” and that "its grandiosity was just like the grandiosity of the sky.”

Although the domus, or residence, is named after Tiberius, who ruled the empire after the death of Augustus, archaeological studies indicated that the palace's foundations date from the era of Nero, shortly after the fire of 64 A.D that devastated much of the city.

After the demise of the Roman Empire, the residence suffered centuries of abandonment, until when, in the 1500s, the Farnese noble family developed an extensive garden around the ruins.

Thanks to the palazzo's reopening to the public, visitors today can get a better idea of the path ancient emperors and their courts enjoyed en route to the domus.

The English word “palatial” is inspired by the sumptuous imperial residence atop the Palatine, one of ancient Rome's seven hills, The Associated Press reported.

The domus, built on the northwest slope of the hill, is considered to be the first true imperial palace. Besides the emperor's residence, the complex included gardens, places of worship, quarters for the Praetorian Guard that protected the ruler and a service district for workers that overlooked the Roman Forum.

Excavation and restoration work, carried out also during the coronavirus pandemic when for months tourism was at a minimum, helped archeologists piece together what Russo calls centuries of history in a place that “somehow went forgotten.”



Al-Safiyyah Museum in Madinah Celebrates Saudi Arabia's Handicraft Heritage

File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
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Al-Safiyyah Museum in Madinah Celebrates Saudi Arabia's Handicraft Heritage

File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
File photo: Inauguration of the Al-Safiyyah Museum. The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)

Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park in Madinah hosted a vibrant cultural event organized by the Madinah Crafts Association in collaboration with the Heritage Commission as part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative.

The event brought together a diverse group of skilled male and female artisans who showcased traditional crafts that reflect the richness and diversity of Saudi Arabia's national heritage. Among the featured crafts were wood engraving, sadu weaving, hand-weaving, silver jewelry making, wickerwork, palm basket weaving, and Islamic pottery decoration, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Visitors were treated to live demonstrations and interactive workshops, offering a hands-on experience of the creative processes and technical expertise behind each craft. The event also promoted intergenerational dialogue, highlighting the importance of preserving and evolving these age-old traditions as integral elements of the Kingdom’s cultural identity.

Cultural enthusiasts and visitors praised the quality and variety of the products on display, emphasizing the role such events play in raising public awareness about Saudi handicrafts and encouraging their continued development.

The Ministry of Culture, through its Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative, continues to support artisans across the Kingdom by facilitating access to local and global markets and promoting traditional skills rooted in Saudi culture. The initiative aims to ensure the sustainability of the handicraft sector and preserve its rich heritage.