Hadrian's Villa
Villa Adriana
The vast imperial retreat of Emperor Hadrian, with the Canopus pool and the Maritime Theatre as its most iconic features. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hadrian's Villa lies at the foot of the Tiburtine hills. It was the imperial retreat built by Emperor Hadrian in the first half of the 2nd century AD. Covering more than 120 hectares, it includes palaces, baths, a library, theatres and gardens. Hadrian recreated architectural styles he admired on his travels across the empire here. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its most famous feature is the long Canopus pool, modelled on a canal in Egypt, with statues and colonnades along its edges. There is also the Maritime Theatre, built on a small island in the centre of a circular moat. The site is very large, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. You can take a COTRAL bus from Rome to the Villa Adriana stop, and it is often combined with a day trip to the Villa d'Este.
Opening hours
About 08:15 until sunset (varies by season)
Nearby sights
- Villa d'Este (Tivoli)
- Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
- Appian Way & Catacombs of San Callisto
- Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
- Basilica of San Clemente
- Galleria Borghese
- San Pietro in Vincoli
- Colosseum