Villa Adriana - The Private City of a Roman Emperor

On a quiet hill near Tivoli, about 30 kilometers from the center of Rome, lies one of the largest and most impressive private cities ever built - Villa Adriana. This is an archaeological site that testifies more than any other place to the unimaginable splendor of the Roman Empire.

Emperor Hadrian (76-138 CE) is considered one of the most cultured and civilized of Rome's emperors. He was a skilled architect, philosopher, poet, and passionate traveler. Between 118-134 CE, he built himself a massive private villa that was essentially an entire city - a complex of about 120 hectares that included palaces, bathhouses, theaters, libraries, and magnificent gardens.

Hadrian

Hadrian wanted to build "the entire world in one place" - he recreated at the site parts of the places that had most moved him in his travels around the world: the Academy of Athens, the Canopus of Alexandria, and even the underworld of Greek mythology.

Villa Adriana is a fascinating maze of ancient building remains:

The Pecile - The magnificent guest residential area, with stunning mosaics that have survived to this day

The Large and Small Baths - Complex systems of underfloor heating and pools of various sizes

The Maritime Theater - An artificial island surrounded by water with a small palace on it

The Canopus - A recreation of the famous canal in Alexandria, with a long pool and statues

The site is enormous - the visit takes at least two to three hours. It's a shame there isn't an organized walking route that allows you to follow all the findings at the site - I often found myself going in circles and returning to the same point, and I'm quite convinced I also missed some important places at the site.

Unfortunately, despite the uniqueness of this place, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the logistical experience was frustrating. It seems very strange to me that the heirs of the Roman Empire cannot provide even one bus per hour to such an important site. We had to get off at a bus stop 20 minutes' walk from the site entrance, and we had to navigate this walk using Google Maps - otherwise, there was no chance we would have made it. In my opinion, this is very disrespectful to the place, the history, and the visitors.

No less frustrating: there is no café or cafeteria at the site. There are vending machines for snacks and drinks, and even those weren't working during our visit. People come from far away, the place is huge and requires a lot of walking - why shouldn't they have a place to rest, relax, and continue this important visit?

Therefore, for the reasons I mentioned above, my opinion about the place is divided, and I don't recommend it to everyone.

Those who have a car, I highly recommend visiting. The place is very impressive and worth the trip. There's plenty of parking at the site.

Those who love archaeological sites or the history of the Roman Empire - I also recommend it, this is truly an unforgettable experience.

If you don't have a car, only come if you have the energy for all the walking and logistical complexities.

Getting to and from Rome via the bus that goes to Tivoli - I recommend reading the post about public transportation in Rome.

If you decide to visit, obviously combine it with a visit to Villa d'Este in Tivoli. Both sites together can fill a full day of touring outside Rome, and provide a complete picture of Roman and Renaissance splendor in the area.

Villa Adriana is a stunning testimony to Roman power. Those who visit will get a glimpse into the luxurious life of one of the greatest emperors in history.