Villa Adriana in Tivoli is one of the most impressive residences of the ancient world, a World Heritage Site (since 1999) as an innovative and striking example of Roman architecture of the time, rich in evocative suggestions of the places admired by Emperor Hadrian (117 – 138 A.D.) during his travels through the provinces of the Empire.
Built beginning in 118 A.D. at the foot of the Tiburtine Mountains this immense mansion spanned about 120 hectares with palaces, baths, temples, barracks, theaters, gardens, fountains and nymphaea.
In fact, it is not a “villa” but a real city, which in the part studied exceeds 60 hectares; in this large area there were many buildings and facilities: palaces for the imperial court, guest quarters and service personnel, temples, theaters, baths, barracks, nymphaeums, fountains, gardens, porticoes…
It seems that Hadrian, as a brilliant architect, wanted to rework into the site of Tivoli buildings and localities by which he was personally impressed during his many travels in the provinces of the empire; in the Scriptores Historie Augustae (Hadr. 25,5) we read that he named each building after the names of the most famous places in the provinces.
The main buildings are:
Little remains of the immense artistic heritage that decorated the places of which today it is possible to visit almost always only the wall skeleton, due to the continuous thefts that have persisted over time.
An idea of the vastness and richness of the complex emerges from the reconstructive model created by Arch. Italo Gismondi in 1956, located at the beginning of the tour route.
The numerous statues that still adorn the ruins transport the mind to ancient imperial splendor, of which Hadrian’s Villa is a testament.
The Roman works of art present were a key reference point for artists and amateurs from the Renaissance to the era of the Grand Tour, demonstrating
the worthiness of the artistic heritage of the city of Tivoli.
The time for visiting the famous villa depends on the time one has available; it takes at least two hours to see the main monuments, but visitors can still arrange their visit completely freely and personally.
Line B, Ponte Mammolo stop, Co.Tral bus direction Via Prenestina and stop about 300 m from the site
Co.Tral direction Via Tiburtina and stop at about 1 km Co.Tral direction Tivoli/A24 highway and stop at about 1 km
Tivoli Station stop and CAT bus line number 4 - 4/bis - 4 X CAT Bus Tivoli
From the square in front of the Bagni di Tivoli train station direct bus connection to Villa Adriana. More information on the combined service of Trenitalia - CAT Tivoli
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