Tivoli

Tivoli overlooks the Roman Campagna where the Aniene descends from the Sabine Hills. The ancient town of Tibur was celebrated for its waters and villas; among the grandest was the nearby residence of Emperor Hadrian. Temples above the falls and remains of Roman buildings bear witness to its long history.

Tivoli retained a measure of independence into the fifteenth century. In 1461 Pope Pius II built the imposing Rocca Pia to assert papal authority over its restless inhabitants. Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este began the Villa d'Este in 1550, creating a richly decorated residence and gardens. After a devastating flood in 1826, Pope Gregory XVI had the Aniene diverted through Monte Catillo; the resulting great waterfall formed part of the Villa Gregoriana, completed in 1835.