One of the most evocative of all classical sites. Between 118
and 128 AD the Emperor Hadrian, who had travelled extensively
through his vast empire, and was a passionate student of architecture,
laid out the grandest villa the ancient world had ever seen.
Despite centuries of looting, the ruins are still on a gigantic
scale. Hadrian made use of the recent discovery of concrete to
experiment with a highly original assortment of domes and vaults.
Many Renaissance and Baroque architects were inspired by his
achievement. Scholars secretly have almost no idea of the function
of the individual buildings, so wander at leisure until you reach
the delightful Canopus at the far end, built to commemorate Hadrian's
lover Antinous, who was drowned in its prototype in Egypt.
Address
Tivoli
Getting
there
A24 or via Tiburtina (32km)
Telephone
0039 07 74 53 02 03
Opening
times
9am-6.30pm daily; last ticket one
hour before closing.
