Rome | Nero's Golden House (Domus Aurea)

**🇮🇹 A Hidden Archaeological Gem** 🏛️✨ Tucked away on a **quiet hill** next to the crowded Colosseum lies this **recently reopened secret**: Nero's Golden House (*Domus Aurea*). Open only **Fri-Sun**—book online or try your luck with walk-in tickets! **👑 Nero: Rome's Notorious "Tyrant Emperor"** Like China's **King Zhou of Shang**, Nero's name is **synonymous with excess**. After the Great Fire of Rome (rumored to be his doing!), he commissioned this **opulent palace**—unfinished before his death in revolt. Later emperors erased much of it (the Colosseum now stands on its former lake!). 🔥🏟️ **🎨 Renaissance Rediscovery** - The famous **Laocoön statue** (now in Vatican Museums) was dug up here. 🗿 - Artists like **Raphael** sneaked in to sketch its frescoes! ✍️ **🚶‍♂️ Today's Visit** Only **partially excavated**, but you'll see: - **Massive ruins** 🧱 - **Mosaic floors** 🎨 - **Fading murals** 🖼️ Feels like a **real-life tomb raider adventure**! ⚡ **💭 Food for Thought** From Nero's Golden House to China's **Epang Palace**, these **vanity projects** came at a **human cost**—now they stand as **somber lessons**. #Rome #Italy #Archaeology