ATTENTION: the excursion is quite long and mostly on foot, suitable for those who like long walks.
Villa Adriana in Tivoli is one of the most remarkable ancient buildings in the Lazio region. The building dates back to the 2nd century AD. Despite its dilapidated state, it attracts with the scope of its architectural design and the perfection of its implementation.
The villa was founded in 1835 by Pope Gregory XVI, after whom it was later named. Here’s how it happened. There was a small town on the banks of the Anio River. The river was quite full-flowing, and annual floods caused the town a lot of trouble. After another flood in 1826, which destroyed not only many buildings but also took many lives, Pope Gregory XVI issued an order. According to him, from 1832 to 1835 the riverbed was divided into three separate branches, each of which was enclosed in a tunnel. The water coming out of the tunnels fell into the gorge, and its flows formed many waterfalls. The work was carried out under the direction of the architect Clemente Folchi.
The Villa of Cardinal D’Este is known for its unique park ensemble, which is located in terraces on the slope of the Tiburtino mountains and is famous for a large number of magnificent fountains. The extraordinary personality of Cardinal D’Este himself deserves special attention.
All days open except: Monday, 25 December, 1 May, 1 January
