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The Beauty of TIVOLI: HADRIAN’S Villa & Villa D’ESTE
The Beauty of TIVOLI: a Private tour of HADRIAN’S Villa & Villa D’ESTE
Enjoy the two of the most splendid sites outside of Rome: the ancient Villa of the Emperor Hadrian, where he used to escape to find a relaxing, private and exotic refuge, and Villa d’Este, a Renaissance jewel built by a cardinal in the 1500 and decorated with hundreds of unique fountains and breathtaking panoramic views.
GOOD TO KNOW
- 6 hrs
- From Tuesday to Sunday, except January 1st, Dec 25th and May 1st
- 10 AM (The starting time can be personalized)
- only private groups
THIS TOUR INCLUDES:
- The gorgeous Roman Villa of the Emperor Hadrian
- Villa d’Este, the beautiful villa of a Renaissance cardinal
During the past 2000 years, the wealthy families of Rome have always tried to escape from the noise, crowds, heat and the dangerous conspiracies of Rome. They found a wonderful haven in the Roman countryside, with forests, vineyards, waterfalls and natural SPA water-springs. Here, out of view from the prying eyes of the capital city and away from the strict and severe rules of Roman traditions, they enjoyed a much more pleasant life.
Over the centuries Tivoli has been one of their favorite “secret escapes”, due to the beauty of the landscape, the fresh air and healthy conditions of the area and, last but not least, because of its proximity to Rome.
Tour of Hadrian’s Villa
Nineteen centuries ago the great Emperor Hadrian built one of the most magnificent villas of the ancient world in Tivoli. About 300 acres of imposing, original, elegant and still today very well preserved buildings, surrounded by monumental fountains of many shapes and dimensions, and trees and plants meant to re-create a perfectly artificial, natural landscape.
The ruins still tell the intriguing stories of an emperor who was a forward-looking political leader, a military genius, an original, creative architect, a curious traveler, a writer, an intellectual and -most of all- a dreamer.
This tour includes quite a lot of walking, but it is an unbelievable opportunity for you to fall in love with the ancient world: follow Hadrian out of Rome and into his night parties in the Canopus, his political meetings in the Golden Square, his moments of relaxation in the silence of Thermal Baths, his meditations in the Maritime Theater, his performances in the Greek Theater. All of this surrounded by this beautiful, natural environment.
Tour of Villa d'Este
Your guide, together with the driver will take you up to the hill of Tivoli, surrounded by its Medieval Walls. Here you will find one of the most famous Renaissance villas in Europe: built by Cardinal Ippolito d’Este in the mid-XVI century.
Ippolito’s mother was for sure a V.I.P.: the beautiful and ever-debated Lucrezia Borgia. As a cardinal, Ippolito lost his race to the Papacy and then moved to Tivoli, where he built his amazing residence.
Follow him during his parties in the noble apartments, descend hundreds of steps and be overwhelmed by the waterspouts of the Fountain of the Dragons, the enormous size of the Oval Fountain, and the shocking water-games of the Fountain of Neptune. Walk beside the “One Hundred Fountains” to reach the splendid (and polemic!) Rometta Fountain. And finally hear the music coming from the water-machinery behind the Fountain of the Organ and the Fountain of the Owl.
The breathtaking panoramic view of the valley will be a perfect conclusion to this unforgettable experience.
- Your guide is LICENSED and specialized in ROMAN HISTORY and ARCHAEOLOGY.
- The transportation fee is NOT included in the guide service, this tour also needs a “car with driver” service, as Tivoli is about 40 minutes drive from from Rome.
- Entrance fee: the cost of the tickets is NOT included in the tour guide fees and the ticket can be bought on site.
- Villa d’Este admission ticket: Each full-price ticket costs 10 euros, Children under 18 don’t pay any ticket.
- Villa Adriana admission ticket: Each full-price ticket costs 10 euros, Children under 18 don’t pay any ticket.
*If you have a party of 9 or more please contact us to arrange your private tour.
PRICES: tour guide fees must be considered as a total, not per person.
We run only private tours.
We don’t run small groups.
We can accommodate time/day request according to our guides’ and entry tickets availability.
Final and detailed price will be provided after receiving your request from the contact form.
Starting price for a full day private tour 6 hrs for 2 adults: 600 euro + tickets but definitive price is provided *only* upon request.
Price can be reduced during low season or increased during holiday, peak dates or last minute request.