Escape Rome for a day and discover 2 of Italy's most extraordinary historic estates on this day trip to Tivoli. From the sprawling ruins of an imperial residence to the most celebrated Renaissance gardens in the country, this is a day that will stay with you.
Day Trip Details
At the designated time, we'll meet outside the Castro Pretorio metro station. We'll board an air-conditioned bus for the 45 to 60-minute journey to Tivoli, ready to discover some of Italy's most historic sites.
Our first stop is Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana), the extraordinary retreat commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. Once larger than the center of imperial Rome itself, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most ambitious and luxurious residences ever built in the ancient world. We'll walk among the remains of palaces, temples, baths, theatres, and pools, while our guide brings the emperor's world vividly to life.
Before continuing, we'll leave you about an hour of free time in Tivoli to grab some lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, we'll head to Villa d'Este, a masterpiece of late Renaissance design and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the home of Lucrezia Borgia's son, Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, the villa is famous above all for its breathtaking terraced gardens and water features. We'll admire the Oval Fountain, the Neptune Fountain, and the stunning Avenue of a Hundred Fountains, one of the most iconic gardens in all of Italy.
Finally, we'll board the bus back to Rome and wrap up the day trip at the meeting point after a total of around 7 hours.
Add Lunch to Your Day Trip
Want to round out the experience with a proper sit-down meal? If you select the lunch option, we'll enjoy a traditional Italian lunch at a local restaurant in Tivoli between the 2 villa visits.
Private Tour
If you wish to do the same tour with a guide exclusively for you, we recommend checking out these private day trips from Rome, one of which follows this same itinerary.