It’s peculiar how, sometimes, the fates of two men can be similar even if several centuries separate their lives. Emperor Hadrian and Cardinal Ippolito d’Este: both extremely learned and curious, both personally keen on art and architecture, both art patrons, both incredibly determined, both lovers of the perfect beauty and aware that it is deeply rooted in Nature, so Nature can be manipulated as much as Beauty shows up: a perfect balance of human and divine.

6 hours (break for lunch included) - by private car & driver

Located only 18 miles East of Rome, Tivoli was chosen by the emperor Hadrian - who hated living in Rome - to layout his Versailles-like country house, the richest and most sumptuous of the imperial villas. Bath houses, a theatre, walkways, libraries, guest quarters, pavilions at every bend lined by long porticoes, topped by domes, paved by mosaics and polychrome marble inlaid works with inner gardens and ponds: architectures melt naturally in a gorgeous landscape.

Fourteen centuries later Cardinal d’Este – who had a political falling-out with Rome and the papal court - tried to compete with the Emperor and built his imposing retreat. Investigating Hadrian’s Villa was both quite a source of inspiration for the architect Pirro Ligorio and a quarry of raw material to be recycled. Elegant fresco-paintings and curious trompe l’oeil decorate the rooms while the incomparable background of plants and marble covered fountains provides a breathtaking, luxurious set of scenery.