Amazing (now) underground palace with frescoed walls. We found the exhibition about the links between Nero, ancient Egypt and Isis really interesting. Our tour guide was good but could have made it a little more interactive. The virtual reality experience at the end made it - definitely make sure to book for a day when this is included.

Escape the typical tourist buzz with this extraordinary tour that delves underground, unraveling the financial extravagance of Emperor Nero. Discover ancient frescoes and culminate your journey with a remarkable virtual reality experience that transports you back in time. Don't let this unique adventure slip through the cracks—make sure to experience it firsthand.

I've been to Rome many times and seen many antiquities, so for me this was a wonderful addition to my accumulated experiences. I booked an English language tour direct with the CoopCulture site. My weekday tour did not include the VR component. My tour was during the exhibition called La Domus Aurea e l'Egitto. The tour included material about the influence and background of Ptolemaic Egypt on the Domus Aurea and Nero's reign. That information was interesting for me because it built on my existing knowledge of Nero. The visit was enhanced with some imperial Roman artifacts that were moved into the site for the exhibit. Fortunately I did plenty of research in advance, because the guided tour neglected to provide an in depth description of the site itself. For example, the tour did not point out that the wall decorations are the fourth style of Imperial Roman painting, which was more complex and detailed than the previous four styles of Imperial Roman wall frescoes. While past tourists such as Casanova and Marquis de Sade left their signatures scratched into the walls, my tour did not point out these curiosities from the past. I do not recall the tour identifying the names of the rooms, or explaining any of the myths illustrated in the frescoes; for example The Room of Achilles and Sciro, or the mosaic of Ulysses and Polyphemus. Yet, these omissions weren't actually great errors for me; because of my research in advance and because my accumulated experiences include ad infinitum explanations of such myths. The visit did have the excitement and thrill of visiting ancient underground Rome. The exhibition called La Domus Aurea e l'Egitto provided much revisionist theory about Nero's efforts to enfranchise the population beyond the Roman elite, and beyond his demonization in The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, by Suetonius. In retrospect, I highly recommend the the visit and the tour, but I also recommend that you do your own research in advance.

What a great experience to be able to be inside the Domus of Nero! You need to take a tour, which lasted 1 hour. My guide was very knowledgeable and I found it all very fascinating. Inside you can see original frescoes and parts of the building. It is complicated to get to and I got lost! Better signage would be good

Thoroughly enjoyed this tour. I was really looking forward to it because I have an interest in Republican and Imperial Roman history. The VR presentation brought the palace to life and filled a lot of gaps in my perspective of the building, grounds and rediscovery of the site in the 15th century as well as the interest shown by renaissance artists. The local guide, Agnes, was informative and helpful. Brandon, our guide from Through Eternity was excellent. Knowledgeable and passionate about his subject, he was well spoken and witty. He shared anecdotes about the period and Nero as well as his own perspective on some of the subject matter. The tour was well organized. The meeting point was clearly identified and the tour set off on time. I highly recommend it if you have interest in Rome in the 1st century.

Domus Aurea is the hillside area to the immediate northeast of the Colosseum. This was the home of Emperor Nero in Ancient Roman times, which you can visit as part of a guided tours, tickets available through the Colosseum website. Today it is also the location of a public park where you will find a mix of tree-lined paved walkways, park benches, children's playground amidst the archeological area, building ruins, public fountains and a few monuments. There are some really nice elevated views of the Colosseum from Domus Aurea.

I have to admit, I’ve walked through this public park on a hill next to the Colosseum a few times in my last two trips to Rome. I never suspected that one of the most legendary locations of Roman history was literally under my feet. Nero’s Domus Aurea, the Golden House((Palace). Built by the unpopular emperor after a fire burned much of Rome in 64 AD, it was huge in a way that’s hard to imagine today. Covering multiple hills, the valley where the Colosseum would later be built-it was a building that covered hundreds of acres. Today less than 10% has been excavated and even less is on display. But what a sight this underground treasure is. Well preserved due to its intentional burial 40 years later to make way for public baths by Trajan. Frescoes on many walls are still vibrant with colors nearly 2,000 years later. Dazzling vaulted architecture gives a glimpse into what a huge effort went into construction. Your tour leads you underground through the rooms and halls. It is cold down there, even in summer. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and exhibit a wry sense of Italian humor. They are able to bring this place to life in detail. The pinnacle though is the VR tour in the middle of your visit. Put on the bulky goggles and the palace and surroundings of 68 AD come to life as it originally existed. Very lifelike and borderline breathtaking to experience Rome as it looked surrounding you on all four sides. Only open a few days a week and reservations are required. Inexpensive and fascinating for fans of Ancient Rome and curious tourists alike. Must visit for those who have seen Pompeii and the Colisseum. For those that have been here before, be aware that some new rooms and areas never before seen are now part of the tour.

While not really cheap, this attraction is worth the money. Especially, if you think you have already seen all of ancient Rome. This part of the palace of emporer Nero is made available to the public with guided tours and supplemented by VR-presentations. The places are limited and well frequented - so you better bookm in advance.