{"id":586,"date":"2019-02-13T15:10:59","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T15:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/?p=586"},"modified":"2019-02-13T15:10:59","modified_gmt":"2019-02-13T15:10:59","slug":"villa-adriana-in-tivoli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zainoo.com\/blog\/en\/2019\/02\/13\/villa-adriana-in-tivoli\/","title":{"rendered":"Villa Adriana in Tivoli"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Villa

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/salvo77na<\/p><\/div>\n

There was an abundance of imperial residences in the Roman Empire, as the name suggests, but none of them ever matched the dimensions and the unbelievable splendour of Hadrian\u2019s Villa. Villa Adriana in Tivoli<\/a>, located approx. 30 km northeast of Rome, comprises of at least 125 hectares of land according to estimations \u2013 partially covered by buildings, partially covered by cultivated gardens. Hadrian used this place to let all the impressions he gathered on his many journeys come together. This UNESCO World Heritage Site even served as a major inspiration for all further developments of the art of garden design in the Renaissance. Extensive excavations are still carried out on this humongous area to this day.<\/p>\n

Origin history<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hadrian reigned as 14th<\/sup> Roman Emperor from 117 AD until his death on 10 July 138 AD. During his tenure he extensively travelled all provinces of his empire, particularly Egypt and Greece, where he collected an abundance of ideas and impressions for his summer residence, which would also serve as his old-age residence in later years. Construction and extension works on Hadrian\u2019s Villa lasted a whopping 16 years. Its site was chosen strategically well. While there already was a tried and tested road connection to Rome, Via Tiburtina, its ideal location allowed transportation of materials to the construction site via the river Anio, which is connected directly to the Tiber.<\/p>\n

Over the course of the years an old republican villa was extended drastically now including Greek and Egyptian elements, accompanied by comprehensive extensions of the water supply. Several brand-new buildings were constructed illustrating a gradual departure from the then-popular angular architecture. Gardens also played an important role in Hadrian\u2019s thinking. The extensive dimensions of the green areas remained unmatched for a long time.<\/p>\n

Decay and rediscovery<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Hadrian\u2019s death the villa fell into the hands of his successors yet was more and more forgotten before eventually being exploited. The foundation of Constantinople lead to the removal of furnishing and marble, the facility then served as a storage and extraction site decaying more and more. During the Middle Ages almost nothing was left of the building\u2019s former opulence.<\/p>\n

However, Early Renaissance saw Villa Adriana in Tivoli experience just that. The rediscovery over the course of the 15th<\/sup> century turned the site into a major source of inspiration for the contemporary art of garden design. Baroque gardens in particular tried to match Hadrian\u2019s ideal. At the same time, excavations finally got started and pillages were at least reduced. Ultimately, only around 300 works of art could be found and were brought to various museums. To this very day around a third of the entire plot remains undiscovered as excavations are still in process.<\/p>\n

What awaits you during your visit<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Villa

\u00a9Bigstock.com\/vladacanon<\/p><\/div>\n

We recommend a guided tour of the entire site of Villa Adriana in Tivoli. You get to visit all ruins, gain extensive insights into the various gardens and get to walk through the underground supply corridors. A look at the comprehensive aqueduct systems reveals the technological progress in transporting fresh water from the mountains to the villa. Here are some of the buildings and facilities of Hadrian\u2019s Villa you\u2019ll come across on your tour:<\/p>\n