Tivoli and its Villas

My first sight of Tivoli truly took my breath away. It wasn't particularly beautiful like Bath, but probably because I was not expecting it to loom so high above me amongst those hills, it was certainly an eye-catcher.

We visited Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana ~ both are UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Villa d'Este consists of a main villa, which looks out into a truly beautiful garden with sounds of water tinkling from the far right and left.

View of the gardens from the balcony.


The Oval Fountain (Fontana dell'Ovato)

View of the Villa and Dragon Fountains from the Fishpond


View from the center courtyard


View of the Fishponds

Fountain of the Great Cup (Fontana del Bicchierone)

Villa Adriana (or Hadrian's Villa) was the home to Emperor Hadrian in the early 2nd Century. It spans about 250 acres, and consisted of over 30 buildings, most of which are ruins today. The place is so huge (read = TALL buildings) that photos just don't do it justice.

A mock up model of the Villa as it would have been all those centuries ago

Height perspective!

Emperor Hadrian's outdoor swimming pool, flanked by giant-sized statues

Staff quarters