News

Rooms in an ancient house that was thought to have once belonged to Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, have been opened to the public.

Archaeologist Gianfilippo Carrettoni first discovered the house in the 1960s and since then the structure has undergone substantial redevelopment and preservation.

Historians believe that Augustus lived in the house on Palatine Hill around 30 BC before he became emperor, at which time he built himself a more grand palace complex at a higher location.

Some decorations on the walls and ceilings of the building were found intact, while others have been reconstructed from fragments.

Rooms in the house have been restored, including the Room of the Pines, where the walls are painted to represent yellow columns.

Francesco Rutelli, the Italian minister of culture, told the Times that Rome was 'rediscovering the splendours of its past as never before'.

Archaeologists are working on restoring other sites around Palatine Hill, including the house of Livia, named after Augustus' wife, which could also be opened for public viewing.

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