Oppian Hill One of the main buildings is thought to be on the western side of the
Oppian Hill under the
Baths of Trajan. The brick walls of the palace were originally covered with marble at the bottom, while the upper parts were frescoed. A portico fronted the domus along the south side. Almost all of the columns, floors and marble walls were removed when
Trajan built his baths (in 104 AD). The elaborate domed room which interconnected two barrel-vaulted corridors was spectacular architecturally and had marble-lined pools and paving in multicoloured
opus sectile, all still largely intact beneath the temple.
Palatine Hill The main part of the palace was probably on the
Palatine Hill and a large and brilliantly decorated set of rooms has been located in the central part of the
Palatine Hill under the
Palace of Domitian. This site was excavated in 1721 when considerable damage was done during the excavations. The lower floors contained sunken gardens, two pavilions, a nymphaeum, and an art gallery. Beyond these rooms is a very large
latrine. In one of these rooms is a rich marble floor found under the oval fountain room of Domitian's
Cenatio Iovis, and a rich nymphaeum with marble columns and bronze capitals. Today one corner of the nymphaeum has been rebuilt. The
cryptoporticus of Nero that connected the palace with the nearby Domus Tiberiana was also part of the complex. It is 130 m long with mosaic floors and elaborate stucco ceiling decoration with vegetal elements and cupids. It lies beneath the
Horti Farnesiani along one side of the Domus Tiberiana. Marble and other parts salvaged from the ruins later became part of the
Domus Aurea, Nero's main residence. Painted ceilings with mythological scenes from the Domus Transitoria, the earliest examples of fourth-style painting, perhaps by the painter
Fabullus, are displayed in the
Palatine Museum. In 2019 it was announced that this part of the palace will be accessible to the public for the first time in almost 70 years. ==Gallery==