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Tivoli: the back story

In depth·Tivoli

The back story

The Fountain of the Organ in the gardens of the Villa d’Este, Tivoli
Photo CreditImage courtesy of © Daderot · Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

About Tivoli: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Rome Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Tivoli, in the hills east of Rome, has two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana, 1999), the emperor’s vast country retreat, and the Villa d’Este (2001), with its Renaissance gardens of fountains. Both are run by the Istituto Villae (villae.cultura.gov.it).

Getting there

By regional train from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli, or by car. Hadrian’s Villa lies below the town.

The Canopus pool at Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, ringed by columns and statues
The Canopus pool at Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, ringed by columns and statues
Photo CreditImage courtesy of © Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The villas

Hadrian’s Villa, the emperor’s country retreat with its Canopus pool, and the Villa d’Este, with its terraces of fountains in the town.

Regional trains run from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli; Villa Adriana is a short ride from the town.

Lunch

Al Madrigale holds One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide, Li Somari a Bib Gourmand, and Sibilla, beside the Temple of Vesta, is in the MICHELIN selection.

Our advice: see both villas in one day, the Villa d’Este last for the evening light on the fountains.

Why it's on our list

  • Getting there
  • The villas
  • Lunch

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Tivoli: the back story before you go.

What’s nearby

Distances from Tivoli: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.

Key sights

  1. Galleria Borghese26 kmCar or taxi 91 min
  2. The Colosseum27 kmCar or taxi 93 min
  3. The Spanish Steps27 kmCar or taxi 94 min
  4. The Trevi Fountain27 kmCar or taxi 95 min
  5. The Pantheon28 kmCar or taxi 97 min
  6. Piazza Navona28 kmCar or taxi 98 min
  7. The Vatican Museums29 kmCar or taxi 102 min
  8. St Peter’s29 kmCar or taxi 103 min

Main railway stations

  1. Roma Tiburtina23 kmCar or taxi 81 min
  2. Roma Termini25 kmCar or taxi 90 min
  3. Roma Ostiense28 kmCar or taxi 97 min
  4. Roma Trastevere29 kmCar or taxi 102 min
  5. Roma San Pietro29 kmCar or taxi 103 min

Location

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