Tivoli
The Aniene River drops from the Apennines through the ravines of the beautiful town of Tivoli, 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Rome. Abundant with water and cooled by mountain air, the gardens of Tivoli are as popular today as they were when Julius Caesar and Hadrian built their villas here. Right off the main piazza of Tivoli is the Villa d'Este, the 16th-century estate of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, renowned for its terraced gardens and fanciful fountains, none more frivolous than the monumental Fountain of the Water Organ, which, among other sounds in its repertoire, imitated the cries of screech owls. On the upper ridge of Tivoli is the Villa Gregoriana, a pleasant park with walking paths and picturesque views across a gorge to the ancient Temple of Vesta.About 5 kilometers (3 miles) before you reach the town of Tivoli is the turnoff to the Villa Adriana, which contains the vast ruins of 2nd-century Hadrian's Villa. Hadrian, the great architect of the Pantheon, built the estate of his dreams here. Paths through the lovely grounds take you around the great baths, covered with Pantheon-like domes, to temples and complexes inspired by the buildings Hadrian had admired on his travels through the empire. Also, there's the island villa, the emperor's retreat within his own massive palazzo.
There are entrance fees to each of the gardens, and seasonal hours (generally 9 AM to dusk).
Address:
Tivoli
Rome
Italy