Tivoli Tour
Kids pay half price!
Duration
about 7 hours
Skip-the-line tickets
Pick up at your hotel & Drop off
Private Transportation
Professional Guides
Activity level
moderate
Sights Included
– Pecile, Big Baths, Libraries
– Piazza d’Oro, Palazzo
– Beautiful Frescoes
– Breath-taking architecture
– Tivoli Castle (from outside)
– Basilica di Santa Maria (from outside)
Tour Description
On our Tivoli Tour, you’ll enjoy a special visit to two spectacular UNESCO sights: Hadrian’s Villa & Villa d’Este.
The beautiful town of Tivoli is a true treasure. It’s also just 45 minutes away from Rome, making it the perfect place to escape from the city for a day.
1. Hadrian’s Villa
Your private guide and your driver will pick you up at your hotel.
After about 45 minutes, you will reach Hadrian’s Villa, the magnificent, sprawling residence of the Roman Emperor.
Hadrian was an unusual emperor. Unlike previous rulers, who were focused on expanding the empire, Hadrian spent years traveling in the provinces, consolidating the conquests of his precursors.
Hadrian wasn’t very keen on Rome, with its politics and plots for power. So he decided to move the imperial residence to Tivoli, which was the perfect distance from the Capital – not too close, and not too far.
Here, he made his dream house a reality, commissioning the construction of a gigantic complex where more traditional buildings stood right next to unique, revolutionary constructions.
Hadrian was an amateur architect, but he was also a very talented and cultured man. His direct contributions to the designs of the Villa were remarkable. Many of the buildings were inspired by Greek and Egyptian buildings. Even when the emperor wasn’t traveling, he was still surrounded by buildings that reminded him of his favorite places.
Visiting Hadrian’s Villa is a little like exploring cities such as Athens, or Alexandria in Egypt. You will see bathhouses, massive dining rooms, courtyards with huge pools, and gardens. After 1,800 years, the grandeur of the structures is still breathtaking.
As you explore this fascinating archaeological site, you’ll understand what life was like for a Roman emperor.
After the Hadrian’s Villa tour it will be time to have a lunch break at a local place – a special recommendation from our Tour Professional.
2. Villa d’Este
After a delicious lunch, you’ll be ready for the second part of the Tivoli Tour: Villa d’Este.
This is a completely different kind of Villa, commissioned in the 16th century by the Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. He was the descendant of one of the most important families in Italy, and the grandson of Pope Alexander VI, of the Borgia family.
When Ippolito became governor of Tivoli, he wanted a house that was appropriately aristocratic. He was also a lover of antiquities, which he knew he could find in the nearby archaeological areas.
Ippolito hired the famous architect Pirro Ligorio, who renovated the governor’s old residence (a humble convent) and turned it into a magnificent Renaissance villa.
Federico Zuccari, Cesare Nebbia, Girolamo Muziano and other great mannerist painters covered the walls with colorful frescoes.
The real masterpiece, however, is the wonderful garden. There’s nothing else quite like it.
Ligorio designed green terraces with beautiful fountains, and an aqueduct that brought the water directly from the river Aniene. This was the only way to provide enough water for the fifty fountains, and the hundreds of waterfalls.
As you walk through the garden, you can hear the relaxing sound of flowing water everywhere you go.
Your Tour Professional will lead you through the paths of this garden paradise, and reveal the technical tricks of Pirro Ligorio, along with the fascinating details of the Cardinal’s life.
When Villa d’Este was finally inaugurated in 1572, Ippolito’s house even rivaled the beauty of Hadrian’s residence. This is architectural grandeur on an imperial scale…
Take a break from Rome, book our Tivoli Tour, and discover Tivoli with us!
It’s a truly unique and unforgettable place and a trip that will stay with you forever.
You MUST bring an ID, a passport or a driver’s license to enter the sights.
This is the price for groups from one to six people. If you have more people in your group, please let us know and we’ll create a customized price.
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or call us at +39 376 165 1457 Tour Itinerary
Italian ArtVentures' Feedbacks
Your guides are so friendly and knowledgeable. They made the history accessible and enriching.
You covered every detail, down to lunch reservations, business class train tickets and wonderful air-conditioned transportation with friendly drivers!
Thank you again for all the e-mails to develop a personalized itinerary for a special trip! We give you 5 1/2 stars on a 5 star scale!
