Domus Aurea

The Domus Aurea, or the Golden House, is situated in Rome on the Via della Domus Aurea, close to the Roman Colosseum. Constructed as Emperor Nero’s residential palace, it is very lavish and exudes extravagance. It has a dazzling golden dome and ceilings studded with semi-precious stones and is covered in frescoes and mosaics. Guided tours also include a VR experience, enabling you to see what the palace actually looked like.

Nero had ordered the architect Severus and the engineer Celer, both famous for their previous works. It was built on top of the Domus Transitoria, which was destroyed during the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. The construction, however, was never completed since Nero died in 68 AD. Due to centuries of neglect, it is only a remnant of its glorious past. The palace has 300 rooms but mysteriously not a single kitchen or latrine. The paintings inside were drawn by Famulus, whose works are believed to have been studied by the likes of Michelangelo and Raphael. The palace was huge; it had a 35m tall statue of Nero, named Colossus’.