Imperial Palace of Maximian, Milan

Welcome to the site of the Imperial Palace of Maximian, a place that once served as the administrative and ceremonial heart of the Western Roman Empire. As we stand here in modern-day Milan, it requires a scholarly imagination to…

We begin at the ruins located along Via Brisa, which offer the most visible remnants of the residential and ceremonial heart of the palace. These brick foundations, arranged in a series of apsidal and circular rooms, likely…

A short walk brings us to the area that once housed the Roman Circus, an integral part of the imperial palace complex. In the Roman world, proximity to the circus was a 'monumental advantage' for an imperial residence. …

Near the residential core stood the Baths of Hercules, a monumental public and private bathing complex commissioned by Maximian. These baths were named after the emperor’s patron deity, as Maximian identified himself with the…

Every imperial palace required a formidable set of defensive structures, and Maximian's residence was no exception. The complex was surrounded by 'mighty walls' that integrated with the larger city fortifications. …

Our scholarly journey continues to the Basilica of San Lorenzo, which many historians believe was originally the imperial chapel or a mausoleum connected to the palace complex. This 'majestic' structure, with its quadruple-apsed…

Our final stop is the Civic Archaeological Museum of Milan, housed in a former monastery that sits directly atop the ruins of the imperial palace. This is where the 'archaeology museum filled with ancient wonders' mentioned in…

As we conclude our journey through the ruins of the Imperial Palace of Maximian, we are left with a deeper understanding of a pivotal moment in Roman history. This was the era when the 'Eagle standard' was restored to its luster…