In ancient times, the town of Tivoli was a popular escape for wealthy Romans who wanted to beat the summer heat. Don’t miss the chance to follow in their footsteps at two of what are sure to become your favorite off-the-beaten-track sights in Rome – the nearly 2000-year-old ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s Villa, and the opulence of Villa d’Este and its acclaimed Renaissance gardens.
Enjoy a relaxing day outside the city taking in the scenery from a luxury private auto with a personal chauffeur round trip from your hotel. |
Explore the enchanting Villa d’Este with its Renaissance gardens and infinite fountains marveling at stunning views of the Roman countryside. |
Experience the timelessness of Hadrian’s Villa as you explore the incredible ruins where some of Ancient Rome’s most important moments unfolded. |
If you’re looking to escape the buzzing crowds and traffic of Rome, Tivoli offers the perfect one-day escape to a haven of peace and beauty. The quaint hilltop town is home to some of Italy’s most striking gardens, giving you plenty of opportunities to unwind as you immerse yourself in the lush greenery. On this 6-hour excursion, we’ll visit both a fascinating archeological complex, which once was the private summer house of Emperor Hadrian himself, and a stunning Renaissance garden – both well-deserving of their UNESCO World Heritage status.
While located only 20 miles outside the city center, Tivoli can be a little trying to get to if you have to depend on the notoriously unreliable Roman public transportation. We suggest you save yourself the time and frustration and let us whisk you away in a deluxe air-conditioned van; with one of our cheerful drivers at the helm, you are guaranteed to have a relaxed and completely hassle-free experience! While your driver won’t wander the parks with you, he will provide you with fast-track tickets and lots of useful information so that you can explore the sights independently.
There are gardens… and then there is Villa d’Este! Created in the 1500s for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, the entire residence is a stunning testimony of the lavishness in which previous Papal families indulged. While the opulent Villa itself is certainly worth a visit, the true stars of the show are the terraced gardens with their plentiful water features (255 waterfalls, 100 pools, and 50 fountains to be exact!). Incredibly, the spectacular jets and waterfalls function solely by the force of gravity, without any pumps – a true masterwork by the Cardinal’s 16th-century hydraulic engineers!
We’ll give you plenty of free time to wander d’Este’s lush rural seat to your heart’s content. Stroll the mosaic-covered walkways, breathe in the fresh hilltop air and revel in the magnificent views of the Roman countryside spreading out below (if it’s a clear day you can even spot the dome of St. Peter’s on the horizon!). By the time you’ve finished exploring the 30 acres of marvels, you’ll have probably worked up an appetite. Our local drivers have tons of insider advice up their sleeves and will be happy to recommend a few of our favorite ‘trattorias’, where you can perch up for an authentic Italian lunch before continuing to your next destination.
Similar to most emperors before him, Hadrian wasn’t a “less is more” type of guy – so, being his usual extravagant self, he went all-in when designing his lavish summer getaway. In fact, his country estate ended up being not so much a villa as a 2nd-century AD water-themed amusement park. Sprawling over the area of 10 football fields, the estate boasted palaces (yes plural!), temples, maritime theatres, arenas, bath-houses, pools, boating lakes – and even an artificial beach with under-sand heating!
While few of the ancient refinements are in evidence today, a stroll amongst the stunning ruins of Hadrian’s parkland offers a fascinating glimpse into the over-the-top lifestyle of antiquity’s rich and famous. After a day of discovering Rome’s most coveted villas, your chauffeur will escort you straight back to your hotel doorstep, so you can kick your feet up and get some well-deserved rest!
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