Has nero's house re-opened yet? The website says it is closed due to flooding as of December 2006 (I assume they meant 2005)

Last I heard, no.

When it was closed, the authorities were talking about a closing that would last two years.

This article, dated Dec. 2005, indicates it will be closed 2 years.

http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy_regi...for-two-years/

Hi Robbo,

I got to visit it in Sept before it closed. I took an English speaking tour with a archeologist and it was very interesting! However, you really had to use your imagination, as not much is left.

Nero was not a popular guy and Emperor Trajan filled in the "villa" with lots of brick walls and dirt - so he could build his baths above. Everything that was there (except for a few frescos) was taken and "recycled" elsewhere in Rome.

Now that it's closed, I feel fortunate to have seen it, but really you won't be missing much.

I went out to Tivoli and visited Hadrian's Villa - much easier to see how things were. I would recommend it highly, along with Villa d'Este and the wonderful fountains.

Buon viaggio!

Thanks for the update, there's plenty of other things to do with this time.

They will be making an announcement in ~10days.
http://tinyurl.com/et8yv
Regards, Walter

I wouldn't hold my breath!

I really wanted to see this and I did about five years ago. It was really disappointing then because of deterioration. I understand it's gotten a lot worse since then. I think a lot of the ruins in Italy (and elsewhere) get overhyped. Honestly, there are a lot more interesting things to see in Rome than Domus Aurea.

I suppose that's a matter of opinion.I thought it was amazing!

Isn't everything a matter of opinion?

A very reliable blogger had a link to the Italian newspaper 'La Repubblica' which I couldn't open nor did I find it on the newspaper's website (I don't read Italian which doesn't help either ).

But she said the paper reported that it is going to open this Fall. Regards, Walter

I guess the newspaper's source was wrong. They are shooting for a Spring '07 opening. Regards, Walter

http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/...8_1286755.html

This URL will go dead in 2 weeks but in a nutshell.

Rome's Architectural Superintendent Bottini says, culture lovers will be allowed back in after the roof is water-proofed next spring (2007).

"Once the roof is safe from leaking water people can come back in. They'll be able to see the repair work for themselves. We're thinking of putting up a special visitors' route amid the scaffolding,"