Palazzo di Domiziano (Palace of Domitian), Rome

Have you ever thought your dream home was “a little extra”? — Just wait till you hear about Emperor Domitian’s Palace. Built between 81 and 92 AD, this place was more than just a royal residence, but the imperial address in the true sense of it! — The Palatine Hill’s VIP penthouse, where Domitian and the emperors who followed him lived like the original Roman influencers they were...

This complex was so massive it had to be divided into zones, like a very exclusive, marble-laden multiplex. First, the Domus Flavia: the “public wing,” where Domitian strutted his political stuff, greeted important guests, and showed off his command of the empire. Then, the Domus Augustana: the “private wing,” where the emperor could unwind, avoid senators, and... hopefully not get assassinated.

And for a bit of scenic flair, there was the so-called Hippodrome (or Stadium) — a long, 160-by-48-meter “track” — that looked like a circus (yet too small to accommodate chariots) but was in fact a luxury sunken garden. Think of it as a royal runway for statues, strolls, and maybe Domitian’s pet peacocks...

Designed by the imperial architect Rabirius, this palace wasn’t built from scratch — in fact, Domitian recycled the already existing property, stacking his on top of Nero’s Domus Transitoria and the Republican House of the Griffins. Ancient Rome may not have invented sustainability, but it did love a dramatic renovation project...

Later on, during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, a sprawling extension overlooking the Circus Maximus was added. Yet despite all the upgrades, Domitian’s original structure largely survived the empire’s ups and downs. For centuries, it remained the official imperial residence, right up until the Western Roman Empire's decline in the 5th century AD.

In short: this wasn’t just a palace but the blueprint for every “lavish lifestyle” brag that came after it. Roman emperors didn’t do minimalism. They did Palatine!