Today we had a private tour to Tivoli. The guide and driver came to pick us up at 9:30 and off we went. Tivoli is about 20 miles west of Rome. It was really nice not to have to use public transportation today. No long waits for the bus!
We went to Hadrian's Villa first. Hadrian was the emperor of Rome from 117 - 138. He did a lot during his time. He is the one that built the Pantheon and yesterday's castle was built as his mausoleum. He traveled all over the Empire and was really impressed by the other cultures. He really didn't likeRome much, so he built this Villa on his wife's property in Tivoli. It was close enough that the government could come to him.
The villa is nothing but ruins and really is not completely excavated yet but it is huge and very impressive. There was a model of what it would have looked like in Hadrian's day and it was amazing! There were slave quarters and thermal baths and large dining areas. There were many statues but as the guide said back in the Renaissance many sites in Rome were pilfered for all the artworks.
Then we drove up to the Villa d'Este. We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant right outside the gates to the Villa. It was in the town square by the church where a wedding had just concluded. The villa was built by Cardinal D'Este. He was a man who thought he was destined to be pope but lost the vote to become pope 5 times. Once he realized it was not his destiny, he decided to build a palace of his own by his church.
It defies description. And it was never even really finished. The gardens and fountains are beyond belief. The gardens are built down the hillside from the villa and the water for the fountains comes from the river and eventually flows back into the river at the bottom. There is a water organ - the water flowing turned something - akin to a player piano - that made music. And a bird fountain where the water made bird sounds. All in all it was just fantastic!
Then the guide and driver dropped us off at our front door about 3. It was a fantastic day. If you are ever this way and need a guide look up Silvia Prosperi - www.afriendinrome.it. She was great!
Enjoy the pics.
All the above are Hadrian's Villa.
Below are Villa D'Este.
These fountains symbolized the rivers flowing to Rome.
This fountain symbolized Rome.
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