Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este

We arrived in the region of Tivoli late in the afternoon. This worked out well because Hadrian's Villa is a large, sprawling landscape, and walking through the surrounding property is probably a lot more enjoyable when the sun isn't beating down on you directly. If you love archaeology, the ruins throughout the park are great. But even if you have no love for ancient architecture, you'll still enjoy walking through the park filled with sweeping umbrella pines and water features circled with cypresses and marbled gods. The Romans really knew how to add some elegance to an already near-perfect environment.

Hadrian's Villa might be your main reason for stopping in the area of Tivoli, located just outside Rome, but you would be remiss not to spend a night in town. Downtown Tivoli is very pretty and has the evening ambiance you imagine when you dream of Italy - outdoor dining on cobbled streets under string lighting with music and even the bonus sound of a waterfall flowing through the old city center. Before settling into a restaurant for a long evening of dinner and drinks, you absolutely must visit the Villa d'Este, preferably within the two-hour sunset window. I didn't plan to visit the gardens at sunset, but I was apparently blessed with amazing timing. The shadows and the warm light of the setting sun enhance the look of the architecture and play off the waterfalls, fountains, and large reflecting pools in a way that is hard to describe... let's just use the word magical. My evening walk through the Villa d'Este garden was certainly the highlight of Tivoli. And, as a whole experience, the combination of the late afternoon walk at Hadrian's Villa, followed by the garden visit and a late dinner in the old town - that day was certainly one of my top five travel experiences in Italy.