Sights in Tivoli
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Villa d’Este
In Tivoli’s hilltop centre, the gardens of Villa d’Este have an Alice in Wonderland magic, and are a superlative example of a High Renaissance garden. The villa was once a Benedictine convent, converted by Lucrezia Borgia’s son, Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, into a sumptuous pleasure palace in 1550. From 1865 to 1886 it was home to Franz Liszt and inspired his compositions To the Cypresses of the Villa d’Este and Fountains of the Villa d’Este. There is a stylish café-restaurant for a drink or lunch here.
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Villa Adriana
Emperor Hadrian’s summer residence Villa Adriana, 5km outside Tivoli, set new standards of luxury when it was built between AD 118 and 134, even given the excess of the Roman Empire. A model near the entrance gives you an idea of the scale of the original complex, which you’ll need several hours to explore. Consider hiring an audioguide (€4), which gives a helpful overview. There’s a small cafeteria next to the ticket office, but bringing a picnic would be nicer.
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Villa Gregoriana
A 19th-century park laid out by Pope Gregory XVI in 1834, Villa Gregoriana descends down a steep gorge, over which water crashes to the bottom of the canyon more than 100m below; the highlight is the 120m-high Cascata Grande (Great Waterfall).
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