Journey back in time to Emperor Nero's legendary 'Golden House,' where ancient ruins and cutting-edge virtual reality unite to reveal the opulence of Imperial Rome.
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Discover the Domus Aurea and immerse yourself in the remains of its sumptuous villa of Emperor Nero.
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Experience the original splendour of the Domus Aurea in a 3D immersive virtual reality tour and uncover Nero’s true story.
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Immerse yourself in the history of the Domus Aurea in Rome with a guided tour and an immersive virtual reality experience.
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Journey through time from the 10th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. Marvel at ancient temples at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
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Step beneath modern Rome and into the mind of its most infamous emperor. The Domus Aurea, or Nero's 'Golden House,' is not just a ruin but a sprawling testament to imperial ambition, buried for centuries and now yours to explore. This unique experience combines a fascinating archaeological tour with an immersive virtual reality projection that peels back the layers of time. Walk through colossal corridors and frescoed rooms with an expert guide, then witness the palace and its gardens digitally reconstructed to their breathtaking original state, offering a perspective on Roman grandeur available nowhere else.
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The Domus Aurea is an excellent year-round destination. The underground site provides a cool escape from Rome's intense summer heat and is a perfect rainy-day activity. For the most pleasant experience walking through the surrounding park to the entrance, visit during the spring (April-June) or autumn (September-October) when temperatures in Rome are mild.
Comfortable, sturdy, closed-toe shoes are essential; you will be walking on uneven, historic ground.|Bring a sweater, cardigan, or light jacket, as the temperature inside the ruins is consistently cool (around 10-15°C / 50-60°F) throughout the year, which can feel cold after a while.
Built by the controversial Emperor Nero after the Great Fire of 64 AD, the Domus Aurea was the most extravagant palace Rome had ever seen. It was less a single house and more a sprawling estate covering parts of the Palatine, Esquiline, and Caelian hills. It featured hundreds of rooms, a colossal 35-meter-tall statue of Nero, revolving dining rooms, and an enormous artificial lake where the Colosseum now stands. After Nero's suicide in 68 AD, his successors sought to erase his memory in a process known as 'damnatio memoriae'. They stripped the palace of its marble and jewels, filled it with earth, and built new structures on top, most notably the Baths of Trajan. This act of burial ironically protected the lower levels from destruction, preserving them until their rediscovery in the late 15th century.
Real experiences from real travelers
Absolutely incredible. Walking through the dark ruins is atmospheric, but when you put on the VR headset... wow. It's like a time machine. You see the palace in all its glory. Our guide, Francesca, was passionate and knowledgeable. A must-do in Rome, especially if you want something different from the usual sites.
As a Roman, I thought I'd seen it all, but the Domus Aurea was a revelation. It's amazing to see what lies beneath the park. The VR reconstruction of the gardens overlooking the Colosseum valley was breathtaking. A little cold inside, so bring a jacket as they recommend. 4 stars only because the group was a little large.
This tour was the highlight of our trip. The technology is used so effectively to teach history. Seeing the frescoed walls and then seeing them vibrant and complete in the virtual world was unforgettable. The guide spoke very clear English and was happy to answer all our questions. Highly organized and very safe with the hard hats.
We booked this on a whim to escape a rainy day and it turned out to be our favorite experience. It's so much more than just looking at ruins. The VR brings the scale and opulence of Nero's vision to life in a way you can't imagine. Booking through the platform was easy and we got our tickets instantly. 10/10 recommend!
A very interesting tour. It's a great relief from the heat outside. The guide was an actual archaeologist, which added so much value. The walk is not difficult but the ground is not flat. The VR part was shorter than I expected, but very impressive. A unique look into the excess of the Roman Empire.
Everything you need to know for your journey
The Domus Aurea, or 'Golden House,' was the vast and lavish personal palace of Emperor Nero, built after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. It was an architectural marvel of its time, covering huge swathes of the city with gardens, a man-made lake, and opulent rooms decorated with gold leaf, frescoes, and mosaics. After Nero's death, his successors buried it to erase his memory, which paradoxically preserved its lower levels for archaeologists to rediscover centuries later.
The tour combines a guided exploration of the actual archaeological site with a state-of-the-art virtual reality experience. You'll walk through the excavated corridors and rooms with an expert guide, and then, at a certain point, you will sit and wear a VR headset that reconstructs the palace to its original glory, allowing you to see how it looked 2,000 years ago.
Yes, the tour is generally considered family-friendly and a fantastic way to engage older children and teenagers in history. The VR element is often a highlight for them. However, the dark, underground environment and the 75-minute duration might be challenging for very young children or toddlers.
The tour involves walking on uneven surfaces and navigating some slopes within the archaeological site. While it's not overly strenuous, it is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. Visitors with significant mobility issues may find it difficult.
The interior of the Domus Aurea maintains a constant cool temperature of around 10-15°C (50-60°F) all year round. We highly recommend bringing a light jacket or sweater, even on the hottest summer days in Rome, to stay comfortable throughout the tour.
Booking in advance is strongly recommended. The Domus Aurea allows a limited number of visitors per tour slot to protect the site and ensure a quality experience. Tickets, especially for weekends and popular time slots, can sell out weeks in advance. We suggest booking at least 2-3 weeks ahead, or even earlier for peak season travel.
Most standard tickets available through our platform partners include the entrance fee, a mandatory hard hat for safety, the services of a live, expert guide for the duration of the tour, and the use of the VR headset during the dedicated multimedia portion of the experience.
Yes, non-flash photography and video are generally permitted for personal use inside the Domus Aurea. However, tripods and selfie sticks are usually forbidden. Please be respectful of your tour group and follow the guide's instructions, as policies can occasionally change.
The entrance to the Domus Aurea is located on Oppian Hill (Colle Oppio) at Viale della Domus Aurea, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy. It is situated within the Parco del Colle Oppio, a short walk from the Colosseum. The nearest metro station is Colosseo (Line B).
There are no restroom facilities available once you are inside the archaeological site. It is highly advisable to use the public restrooms in the park or nearby cafes before your scheduled tour time begins.
The guided tour lasts approximately 75 minutes. This includes the check-in process, the guided walk through the ruins, and the seated virtual reality experience.
Absolutely. The Domus Aurea tour is an excellent activity for a rainy day in Rome as the entire experience takes place underground. Similarly, it's a perfect escape from the intense heat of a Roman summer day due to its naturally cool environment.
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