Explore Ancient Ruins and Artifacts at the Palatine Museum in Rome
Located 40 meters above the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill is referred to as the nucleus of the Roman Empire. The centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome overlooks the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and Capitol Hill on one side and the Circus Maximus stadium on the other. It is also home to the Palatine Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of artifacts dating back to the Middle Paleolithic era. Read on to know more about why you should visit the museum and how you can make the most of it while on your trip to Rome.
Why You Should Visit the Palatine Museum?

- Take a walk in the Paleolithic era: The museum is home to a fascinating collection of ancient finds from Palatine Hill that date back to the Middle Palaeolithic era.
- Discover ancient artifacts: It consists of ancient Roman artifacts, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, and remains of palaces and villas.
- See how the Roman Empire lived: Get a glimpse of the Roman Empire through exhibits from the first to the fourth centuries AD.
- Explore long-lost artworks: Marvel at objects and artworks from the Iron Age tombs and Imperial buildings.
- Take a look at the remains of ancient Rome: Gasp at the archaeological ruins of The Stadium of Domitian, the House of Livia, and The House of Augustus.
Where is the Palatine Museum?

Located just above the Roman Forum on Palatine Hill in the center of the city, the Palatine Museum is easily accessible through public transport. You can reach the museum via the metro, bus, or tram.
The closest metro station is Colosseo along Line B. The museum is just a two-minute walk from there. If you are taking the tram, get on tram number 3 and get off at Colosseo. Bus numbers 60, 75, 84, 85, 87, 117, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810, and 850 stop at Colosseo, in case you plan on traveling by bus.
Palatine Museum Collection
Palatine Museum is spread over two floors with four rooms on each floor. The collection represents the history of the Palatine from its origins to the Republican and Imperial eras.

Rooms I to III
Rooms I to III on the ground floor are home to stone objects indicating the presence of humans from the middle to the upper Palaeolithic eras. There are also remnants of huts dating back to the 8th century BC, locally made vases and impasto utensils, an infantile tomb from the 7th century BC, and several other discoveries made on the Palatine from the Republican era.

Room IV
Room IV consists of works dating back to the Archaic and Republican eras. It houses an altar from the Silla period dedicated “to a god or goddess” – a technique to hide the enemies from the real identity of the god or goddess the altar was dedicated to. Several antefixes made of polychrome terracotta dating back to different eras can also be found in this room. They represent Jupiter, Apollo, and Juno Sospita.

Room V
Marvel at the beautiful works displayed in this room from the time of Emperor Augustus. An eclectic statue of God Hermes created by Greek sculptors Lysippus and Polykleitos as well as a bronze statue of a victorious athlete commissioned by Emperor Octavian following the Battle of Actium find a place of pride in this room. It also houses a few antefixes and bas-relief plaques that attest to the use of terracotta. The room also contains a fresco excavated in 1950 representing God Apollo seated on a throne with a crown on his head.

Room VI
This room comprises several decorations and paintings created in the traditional Opus Sectile style from the Domus Transitoria, the first palace of Roman Emperor Nero that was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD and later extended by the most famous Domus Flavia.

Rooms VII & VIII
These two rooms exhibit a wide selection of works representing the history of Rome from the age of Julius-Claudius up until the Tetrarchy. Admire several stunning portraits of Roman emperors including Nero, Agrippina, Minore, Adriano, Marcus Aurelius, Antoninus Pius, and Hadrian, among others. Also, find the famous Alexamenos graffito dating back to the 3rd century AD that represents two figures – one with the head of a crucified donkey and the other with a raised arm. There is a Greek inscription in the middle that reads “Alexamenus venerates God”.

Room IX (The Gallery)
Finally, the ninth room, or the gallery of the museum, is a long tunnel that is home to several Roman copies of Greek statues – all of which have been taken from the imperial palaces of the Palatine.
Palatine Museum Today

Spread over two floors, Palatine Museum consists of four rooms dedicated to objects from the Republican and Imperial eras. The museum narrates the history of Palatine Hill dating back to the Middle Palaeolithic era. The ground floor consists of stone objects, remnants of a village of huts, an altar from the Silla period, vases, impasto utensils, and many antefixes in polychrome terracotta. The first floor comprises beautiful mosaics, intricate paintings, portraits, and marble statues.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Palatine Museum
A. Yes. You can visit the Palatine Museum.
A. Yes. The Palatine Museum is open to visitors.
A. Palatine Museum is located on Palatine Hill in Rome.
A. Palatine Museum is home to frescoes, sculptures, artifacts, and other archaeological objects discovered during excavations on Palatine Hill.
A. Admire objects depicting the history of Palatine Hill from the Republican and Imperial eras. Marvel at the various frescoes, sculptures, and paintings dating back to the Middle Palaeolithic era.
A. The Palatine Museum is easily accessible through public transport – metro, bus, or tram. Get off at the Colosseo stop. The museum is a two-minute walk from there. Click here for directions to the Colosseum.
A. Yes. The Palatine Museum is worth visiting because it consists of objects and artifacts dedicated to the Palatine and its rich history.
A. Find a wide selection of paintings, decorations, frescoes, an altar from the Silla period, sculptures, statues, traces of a village of huts, and more.
A. Tickets to go inside Palatine Museum cost €21 and upwards.
A. No. You cannot enter the museum for free. You will have to purchase a ticket. Click here to book a spot.
A. Palatine Hill is open from 10:30 AM to 7:15 PM every day. The last entry is at 6:15 PM. It remains closed on January 1 and December 25.
A. You can visit the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona, among other attractions.