Villa Gregoriana (Tivoli, Italy)
In the heart of Tivoli, Italy is a lush historical park located at the feet of the cities ancient acropolis.
In 1835 to rebuild the bed of the Aniene River after flooding had destroyed many of Tivolis homes, Pope Gregory XVI commission it’s construction along with its beautiful waterfalls as part of a plan to divert the river and preserve the area.
Villa Gregoriana consists mainly of thick woodlands with romantic paths leading into the caves of Neptune and the Sirens which form part of a series of gorges and cascades, to the great waterfall.
To reach the Villa Gregoriana, you pass the medieval fortress as you travel through Tivoli along the river side. The villa is just beyond the hydroelectric dam on the fringe of the most interesting and picturesque part of town. This is a lovely area of Tivoli with winding medieval streets, two Roman temples which are prominently featured in tourism brochures, artisan, workshops and beautiful archways, all crowning the rock of the ancient acropolis. One of which is believed to be dedicated to Tibertus, the towns, mythical founder, and the other to Albunea, the Sybil Tiburtina, credited with prophesying the birth of Christ.
The temples stand directly above the garden.
One must be fairly fit to descend into the depth of the park below, and a comfortable nonslip pair of shoes is definitely a must. The flights of steep, stone steps, uneven ground and twists and turns do actually make it a memorable experience. Panoramic terraces and spectacular views make it worth the effort. These days paths run right down to the bottom area, known as the Valley of Hell and traverse by a series of pools and rivulets fed by the waterfall crashing down from above. Here you will find the hauntingly, beautiful, Mermaids Cave, named by French artist Louis Ducros. The water is channeled through here to a crystal clear rock pool the then off again out of sight to further depths. Tours are available and take an hour and a half, but are well worth the effort. For refreshment, located beside the Tibertus temple, you will find the FAI-run bar with plenty of options for your enjoyment. An absolute must visit here is the Michelin starred Sibilla Restaurant, which is one of the oldest restaurants in the world, and a truly beautiful site in its own right. It's romantic, spacious terrace beside the circular Temple of Sybil overlooks the breathtaking waterfall and is shaded by a massive, 200 year old wisteria. This Tivoli location is well worth the short drive from Rome.
