ATTENTION: the tour is quite long and mainly walking, suitable for lovers of long walks.
The villa was established in 1835 thanks to Pope Gregory XVI, after whom it was subsequently named. Here’s how it happened. On the banks of the Anio River, there was a small town. The river was quite full, and annual floods caused many troubles for the town. After another flood in 1826, which destroyed not only many buildings but also took many lives, Pope Gregory XVI issued a decree.
According to it, from 1832 to 1835, the riverbed was divided into three separate branches, each of which was enclosed in a tunnel. The water exiting the tunnels flowed into a gorge, and its streams formed many waterfalls. The work was carried out under the guidance of architect Clemente Folchi.
The Gregorian villa is quite well-known, thanks to its largest waterfall. Its height reaches 120 meters. And, despite the fact that today it is far less full than before (due to the power plant built upstream), it still impresses. Among other attractions of the villa, the Grotto of Neptune and the Grotto of Sirens are worth noting. The Miollis Gallery is also noteworthy. It is a small tunnel carved into the rock in 1809 by the governor of Rome, General Miollis.
It is also worth mentioning the ancient temple of Vesta, the remains of which are located on the territory of the Gregorian villa. The temple was first discovered and restored in the 1st century BC by the judge of Tibur, Lucius Gellius. Later, the temple was converted into a Christian church. But at the end of the 19th century, the temple of Vesta was returned to its original appearance.
The tour is conducted with or without lunch (the restaurant is NOT included in the cost of the tour).
It operates every day except: Monday, December 25, May 1, January 1
