Route map		Where to stay
	Historical and natural attractions		Markets and fairs
	Local products		Outdoor activities
	Producers		A traditional recipe
	Where to eat		Complete description of the itinerary

Tivoli, the famous Tibur, stands at the end of the winding route set by via Tiburtina on the hill's slopes. Among the most important monuments from Roman times are the two temples on the acropolis. The temple of Vesta, in a circular form with Corinthian columns, dates back to the 1st century B.C. ; the other temple has a rectangular plant and is commonly known as the temple of the Sibyl.
Hercules' sanctuary was particularly worshipped; it consists in a series of buildings, including a temple and a courtyard, porticoed on three sides.
The most noteworthy religious buildings are the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built on the ruins of Sallustio's -  the historian - villa, and that of San Silvestro, with exquisite frescoes from 1200, deriving from the apse mosaics of the early Vatican basilica of Saint Peter. Finally, the cathedral of San Lorenzo is also worth mentioning.
Tivoli's fame however is due to its villas, particularly Villa d'Este, with its magnificent fountains: the Cento Fontane - hundred fountains - the Bicchierone, the Organo (an hydraulic organ still in working order), the Ovato and the Draghi fountains. Villa Gregoriana, on the other hand, whose name derives from pope Gregory XVI, has a splendid garden created between 1835-1836, where exotic plants frame the ruins of consul Manlio Vopisco's villa. In May 2005, thanks to FAI"s effort (society for Italian heritage), the villa re-opened its doors to visitors.


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WHERE TO EAT 


TIVOLI
La Cerra
S. Clemente
Villa Luce


CICILIANO
Al Giovenzano


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Apogeo Ambiente srl
06 87186073 - info@apogeoambiente.it
www.apogeoambiente.it


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SAGNE AL SUGO - HOME MADE PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Category: first course
Difficulty: medium
Ready in: 1 hour
Season: all

Ingredients (four servings)
Home made pasta: 400g of flour, water (as needed)
Sauce: tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, 1 clove of garlic, ½ an onion, peperoncino (Italian small chilli), salt

Preparation
Make a mound with the flour on your work surface and scoop out a well; gradually add water until the dough is smooth and elastic. Roll out the mixture in a thin pastry and let it dry for about 30 minutes. Dust with flour and fold over, then cut into strips about 1cm wide.
While the dough is drying, place the oil, garlic, peperoncino and onion in a pan. Fry until brown, then add the peeled and squashed tomatoes and salt. Place the pasta in boiling and salty water and cook until it floats (about five minutes). Serve with a generous sprinkling of pecorino romano.

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Tivoli, the famous Tibur, stands at the end of the winding route set by via Tiburtina on the hill's slopes. The town was inhabited since the 8th century B.C.; from the 5th century B.C. Tibur fought against Rome, which conquered it at the end of the following century and made it a municipium. 

Then a period of calm began, also because many noble Roman families chose it as a holiday resort. Among the most important monuments from Roman times are the two temples on the acropolis. The temple of Vesta, in a circular with Corinthian columns, dates back to the 1st century B.C. ; the other temple has a rectangular plant and is commonly known as the temple of the Sibyl.


Hercules' sanctuary was particularly worshipped; it consists of a series of buildings, including a temple and a courtyard porticoed on three sides. 


The current aspect of the historical centre of the town shows its medieval origin in its characteristic house-towers - homes whose defensive function is shown by the fact that they didn't have an entrance on the ground floor but only access from higher windows, which could be reached via wooden mobile ladders (examples can be seen in vicolo dei Ferri, via del Seminario and via del Duomo).
The most noteworthy religious buildings are the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built on the ruins of Sallustio's -  the historian - villa, and that of San Silvestro, with exquisite frescoes from 1200, deriving from the apse mosaics of the early Vatican basilica of Saint Peter. Finally, the cathedral of San Lorenzo is also worth mentioning.
Tivoli's fame however is due to its villas, particularly Villa d'Este - whose name derives from the Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, governor of the city in 1550 -  and which was projected by Pirro Ligorio. The Aniene's water was channelled to feed its magnificent fountains, including  the Cento Fontane - hundred fountains - the Bicchierone, the Organo (an hydraulic organ still in working order), the Ovato and the Draghi fountains. All this makes for a triumph of games where water and artifice subtly interweave, and represents one of Italy's finest examples of garden architecture. 


Villa Gregoriana - whose name derives from pope Gregory XVI -  had a very different  history.  After a disastrous flood swept through the town, the pope decided to intervene with hydraulic engineering works, to redirect the river's course. Architect Clemente Flochi deviated the water by digging two tunnels under Monte Catilo, thus creating villa Gregoriana's picturesque landscapes.  In 1835-1836 the garden was created, where exotic plants frame the ruins of consul Manlio Vopisco's villa. Finally, in May 2005, after many years of closure, the villa re-opened its doors to visitors thanks to FAI"s (society for Italian heritage) imposing restoration.


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