Lee

Hi all , just got back Rome last week . Had a few surprises at the Forum.The small Temple of Romulus is now open to the public .The recent theme in Rome this summer has been Nero so they are showing videos in the Temple of Romulus of " how Hollywood viewed Nero" Also the Garden of the Vestal Virgins is open again to the public. On the Palatine they have allowed the public to visit the South Eastern end of the hill in back of the Stadium of Domitian area. Also they have opened up the dig on the Palatine where thy have supposedly found the revolving dome of Nero's Golden House. It was just being worked on last year when I was there but they now have a sizable excavation and they allow the public to walk over it and look inside . Attached are a few pics I shot . Revolving dome dig Dome dig from below

Tough one, it could be part of the (probably Severan) substructures running along this side of the hill, but it seems to be slightly off axis and more in line with the Domitian structures. I'll look into it some more. I've never been able to get into the House of the Griffin's or Livia's house either. The Golden House I have been fortunate enough to visit a few times, as well as the ground level of Domitian's stadium on the Palatine (a real treat). Would love to get into the Golden House . I hear it's in bad shape these days . I wanted to get into the Auditorium of Maecenas but it was closed every time I walked over there. There was a number to call. I think before I go next year I'm going to try to make some contacts in Rome and see if i can get some appointments to see the places i'm missing. San Nicola in Carcere was opened for the first time. Interesting place. They had flyers posted for a trip down into the basement to see the temple below . There was a guy in the church with a clipboard with names and times . I TRIED to talk to him but he was making not much sense at all. I was pointing to the flyer and asking him if he was the guy to see about the tour but he kept shrugging his shoulders. ????? Oh well , this all just gives me another excuse to go back again next year to see what I missed . I'm examining my photos now and checking them against charts and maps I have trying to identity some of the ruins I saw on the Palatine. I was trying to find the site that supposedly is the site of the Lupercal grotto , I assume it's close to San Theodoro church . Many Thanx LEE

Just a few more shots. They are doing some digging near the Arch of Titus 0n the East end of Palatine near Colosseum. Included is the sign posted there . They are also working og the Temple of Peace area and have more cleared out since I was there last summer.

Wow, that's great. Thanks for posting. There was a structure right below me when I was on the end of the platform behind the Domition area of the Palatine. Not sure what it is . I though at first it was the paedagogium but I think that is further west on the hill. You seem to really know your stuff so I though I'd run it by you. FYI , the House of the Griffins was closed again ( been to Rome 5 times and never saw it open once ) House of Livia was closed and Nero's Golden House is closed indefinitely

The area of Domitian was finally opened as well. They let people go around the entire stadium area which offered some great views of the South /East section of the Palatine facing the Circus Maximus from the hill platform. Rome had record breaking heat that day , well over 100 degrees.

This year Nero was the theme in Rome. They had different exhibits about him in different locations. Inside the Temple of Romulus they were showing videos of how Hollywood portrayed Nero It was a great chance to finally get inside. Last year I was only able to see it through the glass from the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian .

Sorry for the duplicated photos od the Nero site. Garden of the Vestal Virgins now opened again . More to come once I sort out the 100s of pics I took. PS Rome was HOT all week

Must mean the hippodrome high up on the hill http://romeitaly.ca/attractions/stadiumofdomitian.html I wonder if you can descend inside now - I always have been able to peer in. Don't forget the upper (NE?) corner overlooking the Colosseum where an unobtrusive hole is now signposted as the probable location of Nero's famous dining room with rotating roof. Can see how the mechanism might work, although it looks a bit small. Also the lower level area opposite the Colosseum has huge temples opening just after my last visit. I have some good shots of the "revolving roof " dig and also of the ruins just below opposite the Colosseum. More to come ...Lee

Must mean the hippodrome high up on the hill http://romeitaly.ca/attractions/stadiumofdomitian.html I wonder if you can descend inside now - I always have been able to peer in. Don't forget the upper (NE?) corner overlooking the Colosseum where an unobtrusive hole is now signposted as the probable location of Nero's famous dining room with rotating roof. Can see how the mechanism might work, although it looks a bit small. Also the lower level area opposite the Colosseum has huge temples opening just after my last visit. I have some good shots of the "revolving roof " dig and also of the ruins just below opposite the Colosseum. More to come ...Lee

Must mean the hippodrome high up on the hill http://romeitaly.ca/attractions/stadiumofdomitian.html I wonder if you can descend inside now - I always have been able to peer in. Don't forget the upper (NE?) corner overlooking the Colosseum where an unobtrusive hole is now signposted as the probable location of Nero's famous dining room with rotating roof. Can see how the mechanism might work, although it looks a bit small. Also the lower level area opposite the Colosseum has huge temples opening just after my last visit. I have some good shots of the "revolving roof " dig and also of the ruins just below opposite the Colosseum. More to come ...Lee

Must mean the hippodrome high up on the hill http://romeitaly.ca/attractions/stadiumofdomitian.html I wonder if you can descend inside now - I always have been able to peer in. Don't forget the upper (NE?) corner overlooking the Colosseum where an unobtrusive hole is now signposted as the probable location of Nero's famous dining room with rotating roof. Can see how the mechanism might work, although it looks a bit small. Also the lower level area opposite the Colosseum has huge temples opening just after my last visit. I have some good shots of the "revolving roof " dig and also of the ruins just below opposite the Colosseum. More to come ...Lee

Hi , thanks for the reply. Didn't get in so far . The do have the garden of the Vestial Virgins open again. Very well done. They also have opened up the Stadium of Domitian area of the Palatine with some great views of that end of the Palatine to be had. I have some great shots I'll post when I return and give a rundown of whats new in the Forum/Palatine The are doing a LOT of new work there.. LEE That's the same stadium that forms part of the Piazza Navona, isn't it? You can see some stone fragments at one end, through a basement window of a restaurant or bar, as I remember. Quite lengthy, I'd say. No , I'm referring to the stadium on the Palatine Hill sometimes called the Hippodrome of Domitian.You can't descend into it but this is the first time I have been there that they let you walk around the whole structure and onto the platform looking over the Circus Maximus and area of the Septizodium .I'll be back in the USA at weeks end and post some pics. There was lots of work going on all around the Forum area , especially digging going on around the Temple of Peace .

Hi , thanks for the reply. Didn't get in so far . The do have the garden of the Vestial Virgins open again. Very well done. They also have opened up the Stadium of Domitian area of the Palatine with some great views of that end of the Palatine to be had. I have some great shots I'll post when I return and give a rundown of whats new in the Forum/Palatine The are doing a LOT of new work there.. LEE

Hi all, heading back to Rome for my 4th visit. Have my maps and charts ready . I'm interested in the South /West area of the Palatine around the area of San Teodoro. Does anyone know if the public is allowed in that area at all anymore ? There is one spot where there used to be an entrance but it's always been closed. Any ideas on who to contact ? Many Thanks ..LEE I'll be sure to post some pics at the end of Aug.