This is the hill where Rome began.
Archaeologists have found traces of huts from the 8th century BC here — the right era for Romulus.
It is the oldest continuously inhabited part of the city.
The hill became Rome's most exclusive address.
Augustus built his house here — modest by later standards, but the beginning of a tradition.
The word 'palace' comes from Palatine.
By the time of Domitian, the entire hill was a single vast imperial complex.
The view from the top is one of the best in Rome.
You can look down into the Forum on one side and the Circus Maximus on the other.
The emperors watched chariot races from their palaces here — a private box seat above 250,000 cheering Romans.
Fun fact: according to legend, Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf in a cave on this hill.
The cave — the Lupercal — was discovered by archaeologists in 2007, buried under the remains of Augustus's palace.
