by Ryan Taylor

Created on: February 08, 2009   Last Updated: February 14, 2009

For a day trip outside of Rome, Tivoli is a perfect destination. It is conveniently located east of the Eternal City and gives you a first hand look into Ancient Roman living. The town itself spans five generations showcasing Etruscan, Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern Day - architecture, fountains, bridges, villas and statues.

The city center is divided into two sections, historical and medieval, which makes for great mobility for the average tourist. In the main square, you can stop by the tourist center and pick up a free map that highlights a scenic walk through the medieval districts and points out the must-see attractions.

The two major attractions in Tivoli are Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este.

Due to its hilltop setting and proximity to Rome, Tivoli was established as a resort haven for the Nobel class and offered a relaxing summer retreat for emperors such as Hadrian and Augustus. In fact, Hadrian's Villa is the largest Roman archaeological site in Tivoli. Built in the early 2nd century, the villa housed over 30 buildings complete with underground passageways (for servants), lakes, fountains, gardens, temple, and thermal baths, and encompasses aspects of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman architecture.

Note: Hadrian's Villa is situated in a prairie just below Tivoli; it is a bus ride away. Read below for details on getting there.

Villa d'Este, on the contrary, is known for its impressive gardens rather than the villa itself. The Italian gardens are a model for many European gardens that emulate its baroque style. There are presumed to be over five hundred fountains, collectively, in the gardens and a great number of grottoes, plays of water, and nymph statues.

Both site are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage foundation.

Other important monuments to visit are: Villa Gregoriana (Park) and its breathtaking waterfalls, Rocca Pia (Medieval), The Roman Amphitheatre, Medieval Monumental Square, and the Church of Saint Lawrence (4th century).

Here are some options for getting to Tivoli via public transport:

By train, you depart from Rome's Terminal station and arrive into Tivoli's train station (Roma-Tivoli). This is a great way to avoid traffic heading out of Rome, unfortunately there are fewer train departures and it could take one hour to reach Tivoli. Plus, Tivoli's train station is about 1km from the city center.

By bus, you have two options: 1) Arrive to Metro B line stop (Ponte Mammolo) and take the Cotral bus line (Roma-Tivoli) which departs regularly, every 15-20 minutes. This local bus will stop near Hadrian's Villa, but check with your driver and make sure it's the right stop, and be prepared to walk (1 km). The bus will continue along until reaching the city center. In all, it could take 40 minutes to 1 hour (depending on traffic) to reach Tivoli. 2) Arrive at Metro B line stop (Ponte Mammolo) and take the Cotral bus line (Roma-Tivoli-Prenestina). This bus will stop at Hadrian's Villa (300 meters), and continue on to Tivoli.

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