[World Heritage] Villa Adriana | Italy’s Most Beautiful Ruins!?

Italy has over 50 World Heritage Sites, making it one of the countries with the most in the world. In the capital, Rome, the Historic Centre of Rome and Vatican City are registered as World Heritage Sites. About 31 km northeast of Rome lies the town of Tivoli, where the World Heritage Site “Villa Adriana (Tivoli)” is located. It was registered in 1999.
This was the villa of the 14th Roman Emperor Hadrian, and many of you may know it from its appearance in the movie Thermae Romae. Tivoli is also home to the fountain-filled “Villa d’Este,” which is another World Heritage Site. Let us introduce Italy’s proud World Heritage Site, Villa Adriana (Tivoli).

Villa Adriana (Tivoli) – What is it?

The five emperors who ruled the Roman Empire from the 1st to 2nd century are called the Five Good Emperors, a period that marked the height of the Roman Empire. Villa Adriana is a vast villa built between 113 and 138 by one of these emperors, Hadrian.
Emperor Hadrian was known as the traveling emperor because he visited many Roman provinces during his reign. From a young age, he was deeply fascinated with Greek culture, even studying in Greece, which gave him extensive knowledge of art and architecture.
Hadrian himself designed Villa Adriana, recreating the beautiful buildings and landscapes of Egypt and Athens that he had seen on his travels. He used a large collection of Greek sculptures and mosaics, making it the ultimate culmination of Greek-inspired art.

Access to Villa Adriana (Tivoli)

Take the COTRAL bus bound for Tivoli from the Ponte Mammolo station on Rome’s Metro Line B. It takes about 50 minutes to arrive. Depending on the time of day, buses run conveniently about every 10 minutes.
Since there are several bus routes, tell the driver that you want to go to Villa Adriana so they can let you off at the closest stop. From the bus stop, it is about 1 km to the entrance of Villa Adriana.

Recommended Highlights of Villa Adriana (Tivoli)

Canopus

What particularly impressed Hadrian during his inspection trips was Egypt. Canopus is a long, narrow pool modeled after the canal connecting Alexandria and Canopus that he saw there. According to one theory, Hadrian built it in memory of his beautiful young companion Antinous, who died in an accident in the Nile River during the Egyptian visit.
Around Canopus are statues of Greek gods and columns with female figures called caryatids, making it the most elegant part of Villa Adriana.
Today, with its roof gone, it may look like just an ordinary pond, but when you think about how it was created, it is a place filled with Hadrian’s memories. Near Canopus, there is a small museum displaying a few relics unearthed during excavations, so be sure to take a look.

Maritime Theatre

Maritime Theatre
The Maritime Theatre was built as a private retreat for Hadrian. Circular columns were arranged around a pool, with an island at the center serving as a theater. A single bridge connected the island, and Hadrian would sometimes cross over, then have the bridge raised to enjoy time alone.
The ruins of Villa Adriana spread across a vast area filled with olive trees, beautiful flowers, and birdsong, creating a relaxing atmosphere. It is a popular World Heritage site among Italian tourists as well. Lie down, reflect on life from over 2,000 years ago, and take your time.

The Great Baths and Other Structures

At the entrance information center, there is a scale model of the entire Villa Adriana. It is recommended to get an overview here before exploring. Each ruin has small signs, but you may want to buy a map at the shop in front of the ticket office to follow along as you walk. Major highlights include Canopus, the Maritime Theatre, the Theatre of Venus, the Emperor’s Palace, and the large and small baths.
After Hadrian’s death, the villa continued to be used by subsequent emperors but fell into disuse after the 3rd century and became a ruin. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, the artworks inside were taken away by various people. Excavations by the Italian government finally began after 1870, revealing the villa’s full layout.
Artifacts unearthed here are displayed at the Vatican Museums and the Capitoline Museums in Rome, so consider visiting them as well.

◎Summary

The traveling emperor Hadrian left behind World Heritage-level structures around the world. The Hierapolis Theatre in Pamukkale, the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, the Roman Gate in Palmyra, and the aqueducts in Tunisia are all spectacular. Villa Adriana is the culmination of these efforts and is not to be missed.
If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of Rome, take a full day to visit Villa Adriana and enjoy it at a leisurely pace.

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[World Heritage] Villa Adriana | Italy’s Most Beautiful Ruins!?