Villa Adriana
Villa Adriana
4.5
About
This is an exceptional complex of classical buildings built in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which reproduces the best elements of the cultures of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an "ideal city."
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- Corey M20 contributionsA must see in Tivoli and Lazio!I spent a couple of hours there as it's huge and there is a lot to see. I'd recommend it to anyone. Plenty of history for an amazing experience. Getting there from Tivoli is difficult so it might be worth doing a day trip from Rome with a tour group and paying the extra money for convenience.Visited August 2023Traveled soloWritten October 1, 2023
- Katherine G16 contributionsUnesco treatThis was recommended to me by a friend and I was so lucky. No traffic from Rome, once at Villa Adriana, no crowds, blue sky and sun. Joseph the guide was excellent and the Villa is extraordinary. Had a simple but delicious meal in a local trattoria, then on to Villa D'Este. The landscaping was amazing. I would have liked to have spent longer at both place but as it was 29c, may just long enough. Then back to Rome in an air conditioned coachVisited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 13, 2023
- JuniorMazzagardiRome, Italy350 contributionsBeautiful ruins to be visitedHuge ruins and you can take up to 3 hours to see everything. The sate is well taken care and preserved. The pools are enourmous and the constructions were monumental. It has enough of the old constructions to see what they were used for.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 31, 2024
- Ogi0Sofia, Bulgaria22,768 contributionsAn extraordinary place steeped in historyAn exceptional place, not much remains of Adriana's villa, but still these ruins are about 2000 years old. The place is huge and you need at least 3 hours to see it. There is a very convenient large parking lot right in front of the entrance.Visited April 2024Traveled with friendsWritten April 13, 2024
- Anne GSheffield, United Kingdom87 contributionsInteresting history near Tivoli.This historic site is well worth a look, the vast Emperor Hadrian's Villa. Easy to walk the site, audio guide if needed. Lots of ruins to explore, signage could be a little better but it's a great piece of historyVisited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3,471 reviews
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Peter L
Gold Coast, Australia19 contributions
Feb 2020
Upon arrival at the ticket office at 9.30am, we were greeted by a very rude lady completely uninterested in her job. Once we paid for our tickets and asked if there was a guide or a map to negotiate the huge site we were simply told "no".
Once inside the gates we travelled up the hill to a hut where there were some vending machines, after losing 5 Euros in the change machine, not one of the many staff on site were prepared to assist, just saying you have to contact a company in Rome!
The site is amazing and breath taking, the renovation work care is second to none, it is such a shame despite the millions of Euros and countless hours of hard work and research that has been poured into this project that it has been completely let down by the staff in the office and on site. It is quite shameful and very disrespectful and if these staff members are that bored and uninterested they should look for new careers.
Once inside the gates we travelled up the hill to a hut where there were some vending machines, after losing 5 Euros in the change machine, not one of the many staff on site were prepared to assist, just saying you have to contact a company in Rome!
The site is amazing and breath taking, the renovation work care is second to none, it is such a shame despite the millions of Euros and countless hours of hard work and research that has been poured into this project that it has been completely let down by the staff in the office and on site. It is quite shameful and very disrespectful and if these staff members are that bored and uninterested they should look for new careers.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4is
Terracina, Italy244 contributions
Dec 2021
Wonderful place to visit. Grandeur of Roman Empire and emperors is clearly in front of your eyes. It is a huge place worth half a day for a careful visit.
Alas, it lacks of the most elementary information (signs are all discolourered and almost unreadable, maps and pictures clearly insufficient...). Even the model reconstructing the site was barely accessible with the excuse of the pandemic situation. I don't understand why there is no care in maintaining and giving more value to such historical places! What about some reconstruction, even images but better Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality, so easily implemented today. I think young architecture and history students will be more than happy to cooperate, at a very reasonable cost, if not for free!
Alas, it lacks of the most elementary information (signs are all discolourered and almost unreadable, maps and pictures clearly insufficient...). Even the model reconstructing the site was barely accessible with the excuse of the pandemic situation. I don't understand why there is no care in maintaining and giving more value to such historical places! What about some reconstruction, even images but better Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality, so easily implemented today. I think young architecture and history students will be more than happy to cooperate, at a very reasonable cost, if not for free!
Written December 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Casaubon
Riga, Latvia4 contributions
Feb 2019
Quite a wast territory. As we were here in February, out of the busiest season, it was really a pleasant walk amidst ancient picturesque ruins. We had also a hike back to Tivoli. The late afternoon vista from a nearby hill is still one of my favourite memories from this travel to Rome.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oliver S
New York City, NY11,525 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
I know, many will disagree with this, but I call it as I see it. A UNESCO site, the advertisement says. Well, if it’s so important, why can they not provide some kind of light shuttle (like golf carts, or something), the site is extensive, and I mean extensive. You see very little, being the human ant that we all are. There is nobody around to answer questions or give directions. Bathrooms are difficult to find, the Museum is a joke with its plaster replicas. The tourist busses are non stop, so it’s not like they lack income… €13 for non residents You are much better off watching a good documentary on Youtube, Alberto Angela’s comes to mind right away. Then, if you are in Tivoli, go see Villa d’Este, it’s beautiful and relaxing. .
**
Written October 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sconne21
Newbury, UK51 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
There are a lot of ruins here and the signage is informative. The original models that lined the 'main' water area are in the museum at the villa. There is a shop and toilets. The shop does not selling bus tickets so if you go here, make sure you have a return ticket as well. This place is over an hour from Tivoli train station and Tivoli Bagni station. Buses stop early on Sundays, apparently, and the last bus to leave this Villa leaves it at around 5.20pm, so it's no good staying right til closing time if you need the bus back to Tivoli.
The bus I was recommended back to Rome leaves every so often and to get it, you must walk straight ahead out of the villa for 1km and then cross the road. However, they finish early on Sundays according to the cashier in the Villa shop. A taxi to Tivoli station wanted 30euros.
The bus I was recommended back to Rome leaves every so often and to get it, you must walk straight ahead out of the villa for 1km and then cross the road. However, they finish early on Sundays according to the cashier in the Villa shop. A taxi to Tivoli station wanted 30euros.
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katrina B
Edinburgh, UK90 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Interesting place to visit. Amazing ruins, and the odd mosaic. Could do with better signage - there is a pond with statues on the front of the map they give you when you buy your ticket that we couldn’t find and gave up as it was such a hot day (38 degrees) with little shade. Don’t wear sandals - I spent a lot of the time with lots of tiny stones in mine. €10 pp for a basic ticket plus €3 for car parking. Not particularly busy though which was a nice change for a tourist spot.
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie E
Klerksdorp, South Africa44 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
I was really looking forward to this. But disappointing is the only way I can describe it. There is very little information and the map is confusing, you feel like a detective trying to translate what is on the paper to what you are experiencing, it was almost impossible, it felt very out of context. Information was limited, I heard multiple people including ourselves repeatedly ask what we are looking at and what it means. There should have been an audio guide or better signage… I would not recommend a visit without a guide!
Written October 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary R
Philadelphia, PA1,105 contributions
Jul 2023
Villa Adriana is an important Roman archaeological site that should definitely be seen. However, given its size and limited information, I was very happy that we had a tour guide instead of trying to attempt the visit on our own.
There are many remnants of the grand design and the spectacular buildings that would have made this imperial complex an eye-catching display. Sadly, much has been destroyed, or lost, or reused elsewhere. The small museum on the property has some limited sculptural pieces.
The Villa area is however, an opportunity to truly see how water played such an important part of the landscape, and how an emperor was able to creatively construct a stunning retreat whose ideas and designs would endure for millennia. Be prepared for heat and a lot of walking!
There are many remnants of the grand design and the spectacular buildings that would have made this imperial complex an eye-catching display. Sadly, much has been destroyed, or lost, or reused elsewhere. The small museum on the property has some limited sculptural pieces.
The Villa area is however, an opportunity to truly see how water played such an important part of the landscape, and how an emperor was able to creatively construct a stunning retreat whose ideas and designs would endure for millennia. Be prepared for heat and a lot of walking!
Written July 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TobiasWallin
Uppsala, Sweden260 contributions
Jul 2023
The private villa of Hadrianus was totally amazing! If Donald Trump should have lived in this era, I expect him to build something like this. Severals baths, damms and fontains everywhere, and the garden was probably like a heaven.
Lots of the buildings are still standing, of course with all the walls and roofs intact. But enough to see the beuty of the place.
They offer a discount for stundent on some unclear premises, so make sure to discuss the entrance fee if you bring kids or students. After 20 minutes discussion where we tried to understand their system, we got three tickets for free because they studied some special curriculum that was included in the "free list".
Lots of the buildings are still standing, of course with all the walls and roofs intact. But enough to see the beuty of the place.
They offer a discount for stundent on some unclear premises, so make sure to discuss the entrance fee if you bring kids or students. After 20 minutes discussion where we tried to understand their system, we got three tickets for free because they studied some special curriculum that was included in the "free list".
Written August 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,327 contributions
Feb 2022
In the gardens of the past, the "places speaking about other places" are certainly not unique. Just think of the splendid tradition of English “Landscape gardens”, which aim to reproduce in the landscapes they create the splendor of the landscapes “painted” by Claude Lorrain or by other artists. Or, on the other hand, the swimming pool of the royal palace in Kandy (Sri Lanka) which wants to evoke the primeval “sea of milk” on which Buddhist cosmology is based.
But the reproduction in his villa by Hadrian of famous places really existing in the ancient world is probably the first one, at least in the Western world. His aim, like that of the landlords who built English landscape gardens, also seems free from theological concerns: it's a reproduction of "beautiful places" based on individual and secular feelings: those of the emperor. At least, that's what we are allowed to imagine.
I visited Hadrian's Villa for the second time in my life in February 2022, and this time, missing the “discovery” component, I was able to reflect better on how the Villa looks today.
Except in some parts (the Canopus in primis, and then the "Villa dell'Isola", the so called "Piazza d'oro", the small and large spas, part of the Pecile and the substructures that lie beneath it), the whole of the Villa is difficult to read today, due to the depredations that took place in almost 2000 years. So the visitor's feeling is conditioned by this deficit of readability. It's therefore all the more important to work by imagination, documenting oneself, adequately before the visit, or making use of a skilled and in-depth guided tour: and in any case drawing inspiration in advance from the sublime "Memoirs of Hadrian" by Marguerite Yourcenar; book that, as the result of a dream, but a documented dream, will allow you to dream even while walking through these places.
But the reproduction in his villa by Hadrian of famous places really existing in the ancient world is probably the first one, at least in the Western world. His aim, like that of the landlords who built English landscape gardens, also seems free from theological concerns: it's a reproduction of "beautiful places" based on individual and secular feelings: those of the emperor. At least, that's what we are allowed to imagine.
I visited Hadrian's Villa for the second time in my life in February 2022, and this time, missing the “discovery” component, I was able to reflect better on how the Villa looks today.
Except in some parts (the Canopus in primis, and then the "Villa dell'Isola", the so called "Piazza d'oro", the small and large spas, part of the Pecile and the substructures that lie beneath it), the whole of the Villa is difficult to read today, due to the depredations that took place in almost 2000 years. So the visitor's feeling is conditioned by this deficit of readability. It's therefore all the more important to work by imagination, documenting oneself, adequately before the visit, or making use of a skilled and in-depth guided tour: and in any case drawing inspiration in advance from the sublime "Memoirs of Hadrian" by Marguerite Yourcenar; book that, as the result of a dream, but a documented dream, will allow you to dream even while walking through these places.
Written October 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a half day small group tour from Rome that visits Villa Adriana only? We have visited Villa D'Este previously and don't want a combined tour.
Written October 3, 2023
One more question, Is the Villa Adrain, gardens and palace open everyday in May? and do you have to have a ticket?
Written February 1, 2023
How much are the tickets to get into the Villa Adria? is there a ticket for the Gardens? and a ticket for the Palace? we don't want to go with a tour. I can't find where to purchase the tickets on our own.
Written February 1, 2023
Hi, There isn't a separate ticket for Villa and Gardens.
Moreover, there aren't gardens at all in Villa Adriana
Perhaps you confuse Villa Adriana with Villa d'Este?
Written February 1, 2023
There doesn't seem to be any cafe in the Villa. Can we bring food and drink and sit and have a picnic anywhere there?
Written August 9, 2021
Nadia A
Los Angeles, California
11 contributions
Do you need to purchase admission tickets ahead of time if you are visiting in mid September? Or can you purchase tickets there?
Written July 30, 2021
We are travelling there in June 2023. Can we just get tickets on the day or would you recommend booking on line?
Written March 13, 2023
Hi, Question about Free day. The villas have free admission on Monday Dec. 2nd - so do I buy a free ticket for 2 Euros? Can someone help please? Thank you.
Written November 7, 2019
This was what is posted on their site
NEWS
The site will be open for free every first Sunday of the month from October to March and on the following dates:
May 6th
3 June
1 July
August 5th
2 September
7 October
November 4
2 December
So it must be free as are lots of museums in Italy
Written November 24, 2019
If there is time for only one, which would you go and see: Villa Adriana, Villa D'Este or Villa Georgiana?
Also, are they worth visiting in November?
Written November 3, 2019
They are all absolutely worth visiting. I would personally either go to villa deste or villa adriana. These sites are of international importance and are absolutely stunning. It really depends on what period of history you like more the Roman or the early modern. Villa Adriana is probably the most spectacular Roman site I have ever visited and for anyone with even the vaguest interest in Roman history it is a must. For the early modern period Villa D’Este is fabulous, and it offers fantastic views of the reason.
It is also worth considering that villa adriana is outside central Tivoli but villa deste is only a short walk from the station. If you want to visit the town which is charming, Villa deste is part of it.
Written November 8, 2019
È meglio prenotare i biglietti in anticipo per saltare la fila?
Written November 2, 2019
No assolutamente, nel periodo in cui sono andato non c'era nessuno in fila!!!
Written December 11, 2019
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