{"id":9606,"date":"2022-01-31T10:01:13","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T10:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/hadrians-villa-tivoli\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:12:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T13:12:04","slug":"hadrians-villa-tivoli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/hadrians-villa-tivoli\/","title":{"rendered":"Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli near Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hadrian\u2019s Villa (Villa Adriana in Italian, Villa Hadriana in Latin) is a vast ancient complex built in the 2nd<\/sup> century AD under the direction of Emperor Hadrian.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incredibly well-preserved, Hadrian’s Villa is easily one of the most impressive ancient sites in Italy\u2014a must-see for any visitor exploring the region around Rome (known as Latium)!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pro Tip:<\/strong> To visit both Villa d\u2019Este and Hadrian\u2019s Villa hassle-free, Captain Ulysses highly recommends opting for this tour from Rome.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insider<\/strong> Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top tip:<\/strong> Free guided city tour<\/a> (in English)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodations:<\/strong> all our tips recommendations <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan your stay:<\/strong> the complete guide to Rome<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Rome with children:<\/strong> all our tips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief History of Hadrian\u2019s Villa (Villa Adriana)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hadrian’s Villa in Antiquity<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Construction of Hadrian\u2019s Villa<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In the 2nd<\/sup> century AD, Emperor Hadrian left behind Rome and the Palatine Hill<\/em> to construct a vast imperial complex about 30 kilometers from the capital, in Tivoli (known as Tibur<\/a> in Latin), on the slopes of the Tiburtine Hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The location was chosen for strategic reasons: the site was supplied with water by four aqueducts, housed a villa belonging to the emperor’s wife, Sabina, and featured quarries of tuff, pozzolana, and travertine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emperor Hadrian himself played an active role in designing the villa, drawing inspiration from the monuments he encountered during his travels to the far corners of the Roman Empire. This is why Villa Adriana showcases architectural styles influenced by ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction took place between 117 AD and 138 AD, the year of Hadrian’s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life at Hadrian\u2019s Villa<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Though it appears to be a sprawling open-air complex, an extensive network of underground tunnels actually ran beneath the surface. These tunnels were used by servants to supply the villa and, according to some, even served as parking for chariots!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archaeologists estimate that the villa could accommodate up to 3,000 people, including the emperor, his court, philosophers and scholars under his protection, soldiers from the Praetorian Guard, and countless servants tasked with maintaining this small city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Hadrian’s death, the villa continued to attract Roman nobility, but fell into decline following the fall of the Western Roman Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who Was Emperor Hadrian?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Born in 76 AD near modern-day Seville and passing away in 138 AD in Italy, Emperor Hadrian ruled over the Roman Empire from 117 until his death. A poet and philosopher, Hadrian is remembered as a scholarly and peaceful emperor, dedicating his reign to easing conflicts across the Roman Empire.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hadrian’s Villa in the Middle Ages<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For over 1,000 years, Hadrian’s Villa was forgotten, abandoned, and left to the elements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hadrian’s Villa since the Renaissance<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The villa was rediscovered during the Renaissance by historian and humanist archaeologist Flavio Biondo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From then on, it became a source of inspiration for artists like Francesco Borromini, the architect behind parts of St. John Lateran Basilica<\/a> and the Barberini Palace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1870, the villa became property of the Italian state, which launched large-scale excavations on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hadrian’s Villa Today<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

only a third of Hadrian’s Villa has been explored by archaeologists, leaving 80 hectares of ancient ruins yet to be uncovered!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visiting Hadrian’s Villa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hadrian\u2019s Villa is located in Tivoli, just like the stunning Villa d\u2019Este<\/a>, famous worldwide for its incredible gardens. It’s common to combine both sites into a day trip from Tivoli!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To enjoy both locations without the hassle of coordinating transportation, Captain Ulysses recommends this tour from Rome.<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes! While only a portion of the villa is open to visitors today, it still spans 40 hectares\u2014so get ready to walk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The portion of Hadrian’s Villa which is open to the public stretches over 1,200 meters in length and 600 meters in width, boasting around thirty different monuments, including baths, ornamental gardens, and a variety of other structures. There’s plenty to explore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To ensure you don’t get lost and to make sure you see the most iconic buildings on the site, Captain Ulysse highly recommends getting the audio guide (available in several languages | \u20ac5).
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Among the many fascinating sites at Villa Adriana, here are some of the must-sees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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