Excursion in Tivoli. Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este.

The ancient city of Tivoli, which the Roman poet Virgil mentions in the “Aeneid” as “Tibur Superbum”, begins its history much earlier than the city of Rome. Tivoli was founded in the 13th century BC, when the trade routes of various local ancient peoples crossed here.
Today, the image of the city is firmly tied to Thermal Waters and three wonderful villas: Villa d’Este, Villa Adriana and Villa Gregorian.

What to expect during the tour

Villa d’Este is a symbol of the Renaissance, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built under the efforts of Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, the son of the famous Lucrezia Borgia. The construction was overseen by one of the most renowned 16th-century artists, the architect Pirro Ligorio. Ippolito decided to transform a former monastery into a luxurious residence. The location of the villa was once known as “Villa Godente” (Joyful Villa). The villa’s first owners were three cardinals from the d’Este family: Ippolito II and his two nephews, Luigi and Alessandro. Later, it passed into the hands of the Habsburg family, and since 1918, the villa has been owned by the Italian state.

Hadrian’s Villa is located 28 km from Rome, in an area where four ancient aqueducts once ran. It still houses the source of the famous thermal waters known as “Acqua Bianca” (White Waters). Hadrian constructed the villa between 121 and 137 AD, giving it the dimensions of a small city, covering an area of 120 hectares. Hadrian’s Villa is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historians say that Hadrian wanted to gather in one place the most famous monuments of antiquity that he had seen during his long travels across the empire and recreate them there. Today, only 40 hectares of the villa are accessible, where visitors can often see archaeologists at work.

What will be the itinerary of our tour

We will begin our trip to Tivoli with a visit to Hadrian’s Villa. Let’s see: where the slaves who served the villa lived; Thermal complexes; Theater; Barracks of the Imperial Guard, with a beautifully preserved mosaic floor; the so-called “Sea Theater”, where Adrian liked to spend time alone.
Next, the architectural gem of the Renaissance era awaits us – Villa d’Este with its world-famous fountains and gardens.

The Fountain with the Organ, which plays the melody of the sixteenth century with the help of a hydraulic mechanism, will forever be etched in the memory. The Neptune fountain is the grandest fountain in the villa, which on hot summer days can lower the ambient temperature and create a favorable atmosphere for complete relaxation. A walk through the city of Tivoli with its medieval charm will pleasantly surprise you.
If you wish, you can order lunch in the famous restaurant on the ruins of the ancient temples of Vesta and Sibyl.