Just a short 55-minute trip from Rome, the historic hill town of Tivoli is home to not one but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hadrian's Villa is the first of the sites to see and dates back to the 2nd Century C.E. Built by Emperor Hardian as a country retreat, the villa is actually composed of over 30 incredible structures, some of which have yet to be excavated. By regular standards, the villa could be considered a town on its own, with lakes, libraries, temples, and gardens located within the area.
The Renaissance Villa d'Este is the second UNESCO site to see in Tivoli . Built in the mid-16th century for Cardina Ippolitol d'Este, this villa was built over a Benedictine convent and features an enormous garden with multiple fountains, grottoes, and sculptures. Not to be missed are the massive Fountain of the Dragons, the Hundred Fountains, and the Water Organ Fountain.