About Rome
- Rome’s Carnival: From Ancient to Modern Times
16 February, 2023 - Rome's Budding Street Art Scene
25 January, 2023 - The Life and Reign of Emperor Claudius
19 January, 2023
Why Choose It?
- Explore the monumental fountains and imperial palace of this stunning hilltop town.
- Immerse yourself in 2,000 years of history in the company of your expert, private guide.
- Wander the beautifully preserved palace of Hadrian, the man who rebuilt the Pantheon.
Tour Description
Visit the culmination of natural beauty, ancient architecture, and 16th-century ingenuity only found in Tivoli. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and head through the rolling hills of the Roman countryside for a stunning day-trip of 4-8 hours. Fresh air, tall trees, and sprawling wildife greets you as you ride down the curving mountain streets. The hillside town of Tivoli greets you with steep hills and overlooks into the expansive valleys ahead. Here, you’ll find the 16th-century Villa d’Este tucked inside this manageably small town.
Just outside Tivoli lie the ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s estate – Villa Adriana or ‘Hadrian’s Villa.’ The vast estate is beautifully overgrown and well preserved. What Tivoli lacks in size, it makes up for in allure and is well worth a short day trip to explore its offerings.
Sixteenth-century engineering meets natural beauty at Villa d’Este
From the outside Villa d’Este looks like any other small medieval castle, but this wouldn’t be the first time the phrase “it’s what’s on the inside that counts” comes to mind. Tucked around a corner in the center of Tivoli lies Villa d’Este. Once your guide leads you through the entrance, a world of wonder and baffling beauty unfolds before your eyes. Tiers of lush foliage and tumbling waters fill the center of this town and villa with awe-inspiring beauty.
While the gardens of Villa d’Este are a beauty in and of themselves, the true wonder is the fountains. The blend of artistry and engineering that manifests itself in these 16th-century hydraulic fountains is truly a sight to behold. The villa even opens itself for evening viewers during the summer months, allowing spectators to view the spectacular gardens and fountains in the warmth of twilight or moonlight.
Explore the astoundingly vast estate of the emperor Hadrian (optional)
The sprawling 300-acre ruins of Hadrian’s Villa are lined with groves of olive trees and sprightly ponds with statue-lined fountains popping up between its ancient ruins. Architecture that has stood the test of time is brought to life with statues of Antonious, Hadrian’s deified lover who died tragically in the Nile, and sculptures of crocodiles lining long pools surrounded by eroded columns. The natural-yet-vivacious quality of these ruins somewhat mirrors the quality of the villa during the 2nd century AD when it was sprawling with people: workers, shops, students, teachers–a small countryside city.
Hadrian’s Villa becomes an interactive historical park with your informative guide leading you through each section of this impressively expansive estate: the foundation of the old hospital, the arches of Hadrian’s baths, the aforementioned ponds, and the overlooks into the valley below. Experience what life was like for emperor Hadrian, his lover Antonious, and the commonfolk who lived and worked here first-hand. Add this option villa into your visit to Tivoli for a full Roman countryside experience.
Transportation back to Rome is included when you’re ready to leave, and we are more than happy to suggest a local restaurant or bar for your lunch/dinner and drinks in Tivoli. Come with us to explore Roman life outside of Rome.
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Itinerary:TivoliVilla d'Este and/or Hadrian's VillaLunch (optional)
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Included:Licensed tour guideCar and driver at your disposalSkip-the-line entry
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Wheelchair accessible:Yes. (Itinerary may differ).
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Meeting Point:Hotel Lobby
excellent guides
Our guides are fluent in English and have a contagious passion for the inspiring cultural heritage of our Italian cities. Experts in their fields, they will immerse you in the hidden histories and intriguing lives of history's great protagonists. So much to see, so easy to miss out: with the help of our guides, visit the most absorbing sites and uncover the stories that have changed the world. Don't miss this fascinating journey!
Terrific Trastevere Food Tour with Luca! Luca took my wife and myself on a wonderful food tour through Trastevere. The things we saw and ate and learned were excellent. The best part was Luca's friendly nature.... read more
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A must do experience This cooking class was a highlight of our trip. We got to meet a young chef, Sara. She had us decide what to cook. Then we walked through... read more
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Best Food Tour We Took! My fiance and I capped off our first full day in Rome with this lovely food tour. Luca was friendly, excited, and knowledgeable. We got to try a ton of... read more
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Worth every penny. What an evening! This was without a doubt the highlight of my trip. A great evening with plenty of incredible local food and drink and a really good way to meet and... read more
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Delicious food from fabulous foody Luca Boccia was PHENOMENAL!
His knowledge of Italian cuisine was exceptional, especially welcomed because it included more than just the well known dishes. He was funny and friendly, making our... read more -
A Must Do Tour of Sistine Chapel Amazing! This was my third time to the Vatican but this time I took my adult/teen children and wife and we used a tour guide. It was a... read more
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Amazing evening activity in Rome Excellent night with Sara on her birthday!
We drank wine, ate amazing food and capped it with gelato!! -
Amazing walking food tour w Luca B My wife and I had an amazing walking food tour through the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere. Luca B was extremely informative and accommodating. Would absolutely recommend to anyone!
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Best tour ever. Martha was our guide. She is the best. They way she explained all , answered our questions give us all the information in every place all was wonderful. It was... read more
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Great Food Stroll with Luca We did the Trastevere Food Stroll with Luca B and he was great! Brought us to great authentic locations and provided his expert advice! We would highly recommend this tour... read more
