House of Gold and rubble

By: Daily Blog//March 30, 2010//

House of Gold and rubble

Daily Blog//March 30, 2010//

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If you think our historic buildings have issues, imagine caring for a palace built nearly 2,000 years ago.

Officials in Rome were scrambling Tuesday to repair a collapsed tunnel section at the House of Gold, a palace constructed for Roman emperor Nero in 68 A.D.

According to , the collapse was caused by water damage from heavy rains during the last few weeks. The House of Gold reopened in 1999 after being closed for nearly 20 years for restoration work, which continues today.

The palace’s name comes from the hundreds of feet of gold leaf covering the structure, along with vaulted ceilings covered in pearls and ivory.

Nero committed suicide the same year the palace was completed. Perhaps keeping up a sprawling golden palace was too much for him as well.