Tivoli is a hilltown not very far from Rome. It used to be a resort for the ancient Romans because not only did it have fresh water, but also some sulfur Springs. And the countryside is pretty spectacular too.
The most famous site in Tivoli is the Villa d’ Este. But a close second is about 5 miles west of Tivoli where we visited the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa. It is one of the most spectacular villas ever built in the Roman empire and once covered an area larger than the center of Imperial Rome.
Hadrian’s goal was to reproduce wonders of the world he had seen on his visits. As an example one walkway around a rectangular pool and garden mimics Athens while there are also sanctuary similar to Alexandria. There are ruins of several bath complexes, a library, and a theater.
