Revisiting old travel memories – a good idea or not? - Tivoli Rome, Italy

 Tivoli Italia

Its 25 years since my first visit to Tivoli. It was the first place I ever travelled to overseas, so it holds a special place in my heart, with strong memories. So for this reason, and the fact that I stayed with family I had never met before, I wanted to revisit some of the amazing sites there.

Tivoli is a lovely small town approx. 1hr by car from Rome and can make a lovely day or afternoon trip away from the madding crowds of Rome.

I had an amazing few days on that first visit. The excitement of being in a foreign place and with Tivoli being such a beautiful ‘village’ having the bonus of multiple UNESCO world heritage sites like Villa d'Este and Villa Gregorian in town, I was blessed.

I really wanted to go back because the first time I went, to Villa d'Este, famous for its fountains, were not working!
But would I be disappointed with the changes that I was sure had happened over the 25 years I was last there?

Well I made it back there this May 2017 trip and – yes, I was a bit disappointed but still worth the trip. The change to the town was the biggest thing, which was slightly unrecognisable. The old town piaza I remember arriving to and being first greeted at by my uncle, was almost totally gone and a large bus and car park in its place!

It still had a slight village feel but with the added tourist stalls lined up along the road that were never there 25 years ago, it did not feel the same. In fact when I visited Villa d'Este the first time, I was the only visitor!

The Villa itself however, did not disappoint and was more beautiful then I remember. With the added bonus that the fountains were all running full blast – it was amazing!

I really could not have not gone, as I would have always been wondering.... what was it like, so....... I think I answered my own question!

How to get there:

Car: Highway A24 connects Rome with Tivoli. From the city centre, head west on the A24 motorway and follow the exit signs for Tivoli City Centre, or "Tivoli centro" in Italian. This can take from 30 to 40 minutes under good traffic conditions, but the Rome-Tivoli highway is often crowded, so plan extra time into your itinerary.

Train: From Rome's Tiburtina station, take the Roma-Pescara line train in the direction of Stazione Tivoli. The train ride takes about 30 minutes, but as Tivoli's train station is about three-quarters of a mile out of town, you'll need to catch the special shuttle bus from the train station to the city center. This can add another 15 minutes to the journey. Rome Tiburtina Station Circonvallazione Nomentana 00162 Roma, Italia

Bus: From Rome's Termini station, take Metro Line B -- "Metropolitana Linea B" in Italian -- toward Rebibbia. Get off at Ponte Mammolo and take the Rome-Tivoli bus, which stops in Tivoli just outside Hadrian's Villa. The ride takes between 40 and 60 minutes, though if you take a bus that uses the Autostrada, a special high-speed highway, you can avoid much of the traffic that often drags out the trip. Ask for this special bus at the Ponte Mammolo ticket window. Rome Termini Station Via Principe Amedeo 00185 Roma, Italia

Tours: use viator - your one stop shop for tours www.viator.com

Suggest a afternoon visit  and catch the sunset!