Filed under: attraction, day trip, fountain, Ruins, top-feature, UNESCO sites
Tivoli: An Easy Day Trip from Rome
Rome is overflowing with sights and attractions, but trying to see and do everything can be exhausting. After a few days you may just find yourself considering a brief escape from the big city and you’ll be happy to know that you have several options. There are a few favorite day trip destinations located just outside city limits while some of the others require a couple hours of travel time. For an easy and convenient day trip outside of Rome, I suggest the medieval hilltop town of Tivoli located just 18 miles (30 km) east of the Eternal City.
Situated on the Aniene river in the Monti Tiburtini hills, Tivoli enjoys a fresh Mediterranean climate and has been a popular summer retreat among Rome’s upper class since ancient times. Today it attracts a steady stream of visitors from nearby Rome. Tivoli’s historic center, or Old Town, is small enough to navigate on foot and – despite the recent influx of tourists – retains its small town atmosphere and local character. Tivoli is best known for its two main attractions, the monumental Villa Adriana and the 16th-century Villa d’Este, both of which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Attractions
Situated just 2.5 km outside the historic center of Tivoli, Villa Adriana (map), also referred to as Hadrian’s Villa in English, was built at the peak of the Roman Empire by the emperor Hadrian who ruled from A.D. 117 to 138.
It is the most extensive ancient Roman villa and would by normal standards be considered a town. The ruins of Villa Adriana provide a glimpse into what was once the emperor’s vast countryside home. The site is a giant complex complete with lakes, fountains, baths, temples and gardens. (Villa Adriana is open daily May-Aug from 9 am to 7 pm and Sept-April from 9 am to 5 pm. The last entry is permitted 90 minutes before closing).
Located in downtown Tivoli near the central square, Villa d’Este (map) is a late-Renaissance palace that served as a large residential villa. It was built in the 16th-century for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. The villa has been completely restored and features beautiful gardens and hundreds of Baroque fountains. Images of the fountains and garden appear in the opening scenes of the movie Three Coins in the Fountain. (Villa d’Este is open Tue-Sun from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm and closes earlier during the low-season. The last entry is permitted one hour before closing).
In a charming natural setting, Villa Gregoriana (map) overlooks by the famous temples of Vesta and of the Sybil. The park is set in a gorge with a 100m waterfall. Views over the gorge can be had from the Ponte Gregoriano. Throughout the park are many walking paths and several flights of stairs that connect the terraces and the caverns. (Villa Gregoriana is open Tues-Sat from 10 am to 2:30 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm during the month of March and Oct 16th through Nov 30th. The park is open Tues-Sun from 10 am to 6:30 pm April 1st through Oct 15th. Opening hours Dec-Feb are by appointment only).
Getting There
Tivoli is an ideal day trip from Rome both because of its close proximity to the city and also because it can be easily reached using public transportation. To reach Tivoli from Rome you’ll need to first take the Rome Metro line B to Ponte Mammolo, where you can then catch the Cotral buses that run between Rome and Tivoli. The bus trip from Rome to Tivoli takes roughly 40 minutes each way, though it can take significantly longer if there’s a lot of traffic.
Villa Adriana is located a short bus ride outside of Tivoli’s downtown area. Getting there can be slightly more time consuming than visiting the more central attractions, but well worth the extra effort. Bus schedules and information are available at the Tivoli tourist information office located near the bus stop on Largo Garibaldi in the town’s historic center.
Visitor Information
The tourist infrastructure in Tivoli’s historic downtown area is more established than in nearby Villa Adriana. Grab an espresso or quick snack at one of the cafes facing Piazza Garibaldi (map), or if you’re in the mood for something more substantial there are a few restaurants to choose from in the nearby Piazza Santa Croce (map). If you’re planning to spend the majority of your day touring Villa Adriana, consider bringing food and dining outdoors at one of the villa’s several nice picnic spots.
Once in Tivoli you can visit the main attractions in a few hours, although it’s entirely possible to spend the full day exploring the town and nearby Villa Adriana. Be prepared for a significant amount of walking around Villa Adriana and Villa Gregoriana. There are also a number of staircases to be climbed in both Villa Gregoriana and Villa d’Este. Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes.
When planning your visit it’s also important to keep in mind that local tourist offices, Villa d’Este and Villa Gregoriana are all closed on Mondays.
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