If you've stared at old Romantic paintings and wished you could step inside them, head to Parco Villa Gregoriana for the next best thing. Enjoy spectacular nature just a stone's throw from Rome. Hike easy trails, explore unique woodlands littered with ancient ruins, and peek into natural caves. All this in a park commissioned by Pope Gregory XVI in the early 19th century!
Just half an hour from Rome in the city of Tivoli, nature blooms, history comes to life, and if it wasn't for the cafés and people on smartphones, you might feel like you're back in the 19th century.
After the park was created, it quickly became a top-rated destination for artists, writers and 'men of culture', who were all inspired by its beauty and went on to represent it in their work.
Stand in awe of Cascata Grande, the second highest waterfall in Italy. Smell the trees and flowers on a nature walk, and imagine what the sumptuous villa of the Roman Consul Manlius Vopiscus looked like, before it became ruins. This luxurious residence was also a favorite hang-out for the Latin poet Horace.
Switch off and get back in touch with nature. There's loads to inspire you here.
Combine Villa Gregoriana with other Tivoli favorites. Some things are better together.