Future of the past: Tivoli

Idecided to leave Rome for a day. I was looking for a nearby place to visit which iseasy to reach and not too distant. Google helped me a bit to make my decision. I went to Tivoli.

Tivoli is a town placed 40 km East from Termini,the center of Rome. It is easy to get there with train and 2-way ticket costs 5,20 €, which is affordable. Only half an hour ride will get you there which means you will not lose too much time on transportation.

Tivoli facts

Population – 56,685

Villas – Villa d`Este, Hadrian’s Villa, Villa Gregoriana

Activities – trekking, paragliding, rafting, horseriding, thermal baths

Festivals – Feast of Sant’Antonio Abate (17th January), Feast of San Giuseppe (19th March), Good Friday Procession (April), Christmas, Easter, Feast of Our Lady of Quintiliolo (First Sunday of May), Tivoli Summer Festival (June, July), Feast of San Lorenzo Martyr (10th August), September Tiburtino and Pizzutello Festival.

Traditional food – Pizzutello, the “Terre Tiburtine” extra virgin olive oil, the trout, scafata, pizza cresciuta, pangiallo.

Historical buildings – Gregorian Bridge, Rocca Pia.

Religious locations– Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the church of the Holy Mary of Quintiliolo, the church of San Biagio, the church of San Pietro alla Carità, the church of San Silvestro, the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Archeological sights–Anio Vetus and Aqua Marcia aqueducts, Anio Novus Aqueduct, Amphitheater of Bleso, Ponderaria Mensa, Sanctuary of Hercules Victor, Temple of the Sibyl, Temple of Vesta, Tomb of the Plauzi.

Historical timeline

• Catillus the Arcadian, a son of Amphiaraus, founded the town 338 years BC;
• During Roman age, around 90 year BC, a building of villas started as the town got famed for its beauty and good water;
• In the Middle Ages, aroundthe 10th century, Tivoli fell under papal control;
• During Renaissance, popes were building villas and other constructions around the town;
• In the 18th century the town got occupied by Duke of Alba and Austrians afterward;
• Tivoli suffered a damage in WW2

Today, Tivoli has a great cultural heritage and a lot of history to present. You will need a few days for detailed exploration, as it usually goes with every place with a rich history. Concerning the fact this was a one day trip, I had to put a bit of effort into making a plan and timetable for sightseeing.I skipped „activities“ and „religious locations“ I mentioned at the beginning. Those activities can be done in many other places and that is why I did not make it a priority. When I visit the place which I probably won`t  visit again, or at least I`m not certain of it, I tend to focus on the sights that can be seen only there or something that is unique. I also decided not to go to churches because I traveled a lot already and conclusion based on my experience states that all the churches aresimilar. The same goes for castles. If you are spending time in Rome, as I am, you will get a chance to visit world wide famous places of worship. If religion plays important role in your life or if you are simply interested in everything I skipped, let me know how it was.

I absolutely fell in love with Villa d`Este. It is a huge building with an enormous garden full of art and fountains.Its magnificence if protected by UNESCO. Following brilliant architectural plan hundreds of years ago, the result we can see today is breathtaking. Villa itself has a lot of artwork inside including paintings, statues, wall drawings, furniture, style… After you get impressed by it, you enter the garden. I grew up in the national park which is often described as the most beautiful place in Europe. That is why it is hard to impress me with architectural or natural wonders, but the garden left me speechless.

When in Rome, visit Tivoli.