Call us:
Description of Private Excursion - A Day in the Country The Villas of Tivoli
- The historic hill town of Tivoli, 22 miles east of Rome, is justly famous for its great monuments, most notably the Villa d'Este and Hadrian's villa. This full day excursion will reveal the charms of Tivoli by introducing you to the Baroque splendor and Imperial Roman excess of this small town on the Aniene River.
- Wealthy Romans have always flocked to Tivoli, lured here by its temperate climate. But no summer retreat tops that of the Emperor Hadrian who, in the early 2nd century AD, conceived a gigantic complex with underground service passages, artificial lakes, fountains, libraries, baths, temples and gardens. Hadrian himself personally supervised the construction and architectural features of the more than 30 buildings that served as reminders of his foreign travels and the countries he had visited.
- After Hadrian, the villa was used by his various successors. During the decline of the Roman Empire it fell into disuse and was partially ruined. In the 16th century Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este had much of the marble and statues in Hadrian's villa removed to decorate his own Villa d'Este located nearby. Son of the infamous Lucretia Borgia, Cardinal Ippolito used the villa primarily for entertaining. The main attraction is the breathtaking garden composed almost exclusively of water features. Sparkling water cascades down stone banisters, into deep pools shaded by trees, over a miniature reproduction of Rome and powers the pipes of a gigantic organ. Sadly, the fountains no longer operate as they once did, but two were restored in 2003: the 'Owl Fountain,' which plays birdsong, and the large 'Water Organ Fountain.' Their mechanisms have been recreated and the fountains are sounded several times a day.
Additional Pricing Information
Departure Dates
Places Visited
You may be interested in these Luxury Travel Ideas:
Places Visited: Italy, Campania, Sorrento,
In the morning, sailing from Massa Lubrense or Sorrento to spend a very special day fishing with our local fishermen, using nets to catch our [...]
Places Visited: Italy, Campania, Naples
Whole day escorted tour in Pompeii and Vesuvius with deluxe bus. Pick up from the villa. Excursion to the excavation of Pompei. Following the [...]
Places Visited: Italy, Campania, Amalfi
Whole day escorted tour along the Amalfi Coast with a private car. Pick up from the villa. Amalfi Coast is said to be the most spectacular road in [...]
Places Visited: Italy, Campania, Naples,
Whole day escorted tour with deluxe bus.First we visit Paestum , which is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. Here you [...]
Places Visited: Rome, Italy, Campania,
Departure from Sorrento in air conditioned coach. Arrival in the Capital after 3 hours trip and visit of the main sites of Rome .The excursion [...]
