Emperor Hadrian had this villa built for himself and his court in the Tiburtina countryside. It is a unique testimony in terms of size, architectural and decorative characteristics. Today it appears as an extraordinary, immense park, covering over 80 hectares, scattered with grandiose Roman ruins, spas and eighteenth-century farmhouses, in an atmosphere that still retains much of the ancient charm. The visit also includes the Maritime Theater, an artificial island, a real private outbuilding of the emperor; the Canopus complex, consisting of a large rectangular basin surrounded by sculptures and which reflects the fascinating structure of the Serapeum.

The Villa has a total of 35,000 square meters of gardens, 250 spouts, 60 pools of water, 255 waterfalls, 100 pools, 50 fountains, 20 exedras and terraces, 300 sluice gates, 30,000 plants with seasonal rotation, 150 old tall trees, 15,000 plants and perennial ornamental trees, 9,000 square meters of avenues, paths and ramps. A few kilometers away from Rome, Villa d'Este was built at the behest of Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, governor of Tivoli from 1550. The cardinal, disappointed at the failure to elect as pontiff, wanted to bring the splendor of the Ferrarese, Roman and French courts and above all equal the magnificence of Villa Adriana.