Torrential rain in Rome has caused authorities to close the emperor Nero’s palace. Culture Minister Rocco Buttiglione stated: ‘Safety is no longer guaranteed’; the Domus Aurea (House of Gold) could be shut for up to two years as the rain threatened to damage the ancient building’s plaster and masonry. Following a fire in AD64, Nero ordered the rebuilding of much of the city and the opulent palace was finished in AD68, the year of the emperor’s suicide. The palace was shut for 18 years until 1999 for repairs and structural damage in 2001 also meant it closed to the public. The current closure and the restoration could cost up to €5 million (£4 million).