A train trip to Trivoli to see Hadrian's Villa. It's the kind of town that has a castle in the middle.
And knows to expect tourists.
We took the walking route to the villa. I don;t really recommend this unless you are up for a pretty long walk in general :) It may have seemed further to us because it was SO HOT.
Emperor Hadrian (117-138) had lots of achievements, none of which you learn in detail at the villa :) BUT I will tell you a few quick facts that you probably already know:
He was the third of the five good emperor's.
A love of Greece, their culture and everything about them.
He was widely travelled.
Apparently very handsome.
He built the Pantheon and Castel Sant' Angelo, his own tomb, in Rome; added a whole new quarter to Athens; and made of his palace at Tibur (modern Tivoli) a museum of replicas of buildings he had seen on his travels.
His villa must have once depicted everything lavish and powerful about Rome.
The ruins say quite a lot about how preserved Pompeii is, as most of this place is just grasslands. The audio guide is not good - I don't advise bothering to buy it.
We took a few photos of the most complete parts. The bath houses are actually quite interesting if you haven't seen any yet.
I have developed a bit of a love of cherry blossoms I think! Blame Japan :)
We walked back towards the town center, and onwards towards Villa d'este.
Why?
For the gardens. You will see.
Cascades of fountains everywhere. Water is a real feature, and the beautiful foliage, and statues are mere decorations for enhancement. They say it was built with the hanging gardens of Babylon in mind. The style is very renaissance and the artisi, Pirro Ligorio, who planned the themes and symbolism of the Villa and gardens actually studies Hadrian's villa for inspirations, and built a gardens unlike any other in Rome.
.
Well worth a trip for the gardens alone. Very peaceful, despite many french school trips (who knows why!)
Much love
x