Hadrian’s Villa Tour – Tivoli

“Emperor Hadrian”, who lived during the second century, travelled a lot during his reign, visiting many provinces of the Roman Empire. When he built his villa, he decided to recreate the most beautiful monuments he had seen in it, so Hadrian’s villa became a place full of beautiful art and architecture. Emperor Hadrian is remembered for being a cultured man, and during his reign he built many theaters, roads, and harbors around the Empire to promote culture, trade, and travel. It was him who built the “Pantheon”, now one of the most famous archaeological sites in Rome.

With the Hadrian’s Villa tour, you will visit many beautiful places. The villa’s garden is called “Pecile”, and it was inspired by the Greek city of “Athens”, which Hadrian visited. This is the place where the emperor and his guests would walk during the summer and winter. It also has a rectangular pool surrounded by beautiful marble statues and columns that reflect in the clear water. One of the buildings that you will see with the Hadrian’s Villa tour is the “Piazza d’Oro”, the golden square. From there you will be able to access the “nymphaeum”, a building dedicated to the “nymphs”, creatures of Roman and Greek folklore, and the “Casa Colonica”. The “Casa Colonica” is probably where Hadrian took care of public functions. You will also see the “Teatro Marittimo”, “the Maritime Theater”, one of the first monuments that were built here. The “Teatro Marittimo” has many beautiful columns that are placed around an artificial basin of water. In the basin there is a small island with a small garden and thermal complex, where Hadrian often came to think. Next to the “Teatro Marittimo” there was also a library. Hadrian’s Villa also has two more “spa complexes”. The smallest and more luxurious one was used by Hadrian and his family, while the bigger one was used by the servants who worked at the villa.

The water used in Hadrian’s Villa came from four ancient aqueducts that also brought water to the city of Rome, “Anio Vetus”, “Anio Novus”, “Aqua Marcia” and “Aqua Claudia”. Near to Hadrian’s Villa there is also a spring of sulfur water called “Acque Albul”, which is said to have many health benefits.

During the Hadrian’s Villa tour, you will see one of the most beautiful villas of the ancient Roman Empire, home to the emperor who built the Pantheon and ruled during a golden age of the Roman Empire: the “Pax Romana”.

If you want to visit another beautiful villa in Tivoli, you can visit the famous Villa d’Este. This renaissance villa and UNESCO World Heritage Site has beautiful gardens, marble statues, and elegant fountains that will show you all the beauty of the Italian renaissance. You can learn more by looking at the Villa d’Este tour – Tivoli in the private tours sections on our website.