Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este Half-Day Trip from Rome

Description:

• Explore Italy's rich history at Emperor Hadrian's Villa and the remarkable Villa d'Este gardens on a half-day tour from Rome. You'll take a relaxing four-hour excursion to Tivoli and travel through the beautiful countryside surrounding the busy capital.

  Your first stop is the evocative ruins of the famous villa built by Emperor Hadrian (Villa Adriana in Italian). The villa was built in the 2nd century A.D. by Hadrian to remind him of the monuments he'd admired during his travels in Greece and Egypt. The villa is now in ruins, and can only hint at its original grandeur and beauty, but the landscaped pools and grottoes have influenced subsequent garden design over the centuries.

  Your journey into the past continues to the magnificent Villa d'Este at Tivoli, one of the most beautiful residences of the late Renaissance. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a masterpiece of Italian architecture and especially garden design, inspired by Hadrian's Villa. You'll discover how Villa d'Este's countless fountains create a graceful symphony of carved stone, shade, sunlight and water as you take a walk around the villa's magnificent formal gardens.

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