Interrail throughout Italy

Milán - Padua - Verona - Venecia - Florencia - San Gimignano - Siena - Pisa - Nápoles - Pompeya - Costa de Amalfi - Capri - Asís- Roma - Tívoli - Mónaco

In order to arrive in Tivoli we had to take the subway and then the bus from Rome. We enjoyed the "delicate" driving of the bus driver.
The richness of water at this zone (Tivoli) favoured the constructions of great architectonic complexes (villas), two of which we visited. The village of Tivoli is interesting as well, since there are many Roman and Medieval rests, some in a good state. We addressed directly to the villas because they are the most important spots. Indeed both villas are designed as World Heritage Monuments.

The Villa d'Este was built in 1550 for the cardinal Ippolyto d´Este, son of Lucrezia Borgia. The objective of this palace was entertainment and leisure. The tourist come here to search for the formidable gardens and fountains that the different owners have adorned and that constitute an oasis contrasting with the heat of Rome. Firstly we started with the interior of the palace (nothing particualr to sign) and afterwards we went to the refreshing gardens.

The river Aniene feeds the magnificent fountains dispersed under the shadows. The gardens are a splendid example of Renaissance gardens. It is very relaxing to wander through this whole, that keeps treasures such as the fountains Rometta, Bicchierone (Bernini made it), Ovato, the Dragoons, the Hundred Fountains Walk or the Cascade Under the Water Organ. They are simply superb.

In second place we went to Villa Gregoriana, famous due to its wild nature and that keeps a 100 m. high waterfall as well as several wonderful caves where the river appears and disappears. It was closed so we lose the opportunity. We could appreciate the big jump from the top instead of the waterfall and it was really high.

And in third place we took a bus until the magnificent Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa), some minutes far from the village. Hadrian was proclaimed emperor or the Roman Empire in 117 A.C. after the Trajan's death. Both were born in Hispania. Hadrian was an educated soldier, very complex and interesting. The first task he attempted was to solve the military problems of the Empire, but unlike his predecessor who embarked in great conquer projects he tried to fortify the limits of the Empire. One of these consequences is the well-known Hadrian's wall that crosses England from East to West as the borderline. Hadrian was an excellent and cult governor, and you check it through the visit to the Villa.

The Roman emperor ordered ands supervised the construction of the villa, a small city from the beginning of 2nd century. This gigantic residential and recreational complex is an extraordinary example of the Roman architecture and it consists on monumental buildings, streets, baths, libraries, theatres, gardens, artificial lakes and temples reproducing similar buildings that the emperor saw during his travels, especially across Greece and Egypt. The most beautiful spots are the Maritime theatre and the Canopus.

Many designers and architects were also influenced in 19th and 20th centuries. Despite the damage during the Second World War the villa keeps a majestic presence. You feel a bad envy when you think about how the emperor lived and the amount of luxurious that he possessed.

As we didn't carry any guidebook we rented an audioguide, that was very useful and comfortable because you only have to listen to the explanations in each spot.
Be careful with the bus timetables on you way back to Rome, since we didn't study them before entering Villa Adriana and we had to wait for a boring hour to the bus.