WONDERS OF TIVOLI: Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este (Day Trip from Rome)

The hill-town of Tivoli, about 30 miles from Rome, is renown for his relaxed vibe, natural thermal springs, waterfalls  and enchanting views of the roman countryside. It’s not a mystery why it had been a favorite escape from the hustle and bustle of the city since the ancient times.

The guide and private driver will meet you at your hotel and take you on a 30 minutes journey trough the lovely roman countryside to Tivoli, in a AC minivan.

On the way you’ll enjoy stunning views and hear the story of this town (even older than Rome itself!) and see the quarries where for over 2000 years the famous Travertine stone was quarried to build the city monuments.

The first stop will be at the Villa Adriana, the incredible II century summer palace created by emperor Hadrian for his private enjoyment, than spans on about 300 acres of land.
Going trough the very well preserved ruins of the villa you’ll learn about the life of the fascinating emperor Hadrian, visionary and curious, who traveled most of the empire, eager to learn and be inspired by other cultures. His villa was filled up with artworks and buildings in a etherogeneus mix of egiptian, greek, and roman stile. Walk trough the famous Canopus, where he held his banquets by an enormous pool surrounded by sculptures and refreshing waterfalls, the Baths where he and his guests enjoyed thermal water, the Maritime Theater where he hid himself to meditate, the Greek theater, the Golden square, and the all the most fascinating corners of the villa.

We’ll then reach Tivoli’s city center for enjoying lunch in a local trattoria with a taste of traditional food specialities.

After the break we’ll continue towards Villa D’Este: created by Cardinal Ippolito d’Este in the mid 16th century is renown for his pleasure gardens decorated with hundreds of fountains.
You’ll learn about the cardinal’s extravagances, his well known mother Lucrezia Borgia, his quest to become Pope, and about the exclusive parties he held in the rooms of his lavish apartments. Then enjoy a stroll trough the gardens and the many fountains, marvels of water engineering: the spray of water of the fountain of the Neptune, designed by the baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, reaches a height of 10 meters!

The scent of the trees and the sound of water will be a regenerating end for a day trip full of history, beauty and great emotions.