Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
Tivoli
The gardens at Villa Gregoriana in the town of Tivoli were restored just a few years ago to their past glory — as they were when 17th- and 18th-century artists like Nicolas Poussin and Jean-Honoré Fragonard drew inspiration from them. The vertical garden is indeed made for romantics, winding through wooded paths, natural grottoes and ancient ruins. It all finishes at a stunning 350-foot waterfall. There are both convenient train and bus departures from Rome every hour. The central Termini train station and the Cotral bus station at the Ponte Mammolo metro stop provide service that will bring you close to the entrance to the gardens. By car, take the Via Tiburtina (SS5), the city's ancient road that heads eastward.