Hadrian & Antinous: Villa Adriana Tour, In Search of Forbidden Love
Overview
This is a story of love, imperial power, loss and memory, still alive through history and imagination. The narrative will be inspired by Marguerite Yourcenar’s Memoirs of Hadrian, together with my bachelor’s thesis dedicated to Antinous and his symbolic legacy.
By blending archaeology, history, poetry and theatrical storytelling, the tour offers a dynamic yet accessible experience, not physically demanding, allowing us to immerse ourselves in Imperial Rome from a more intimate perspective.
Rather than focusing only on political or architectural grandeur, we will highlight the artistic, poetic and emotional dimension of Hadrian’s world—often overlooked, yet essential to understanding the human depth behind one of Rome’s most fascinating emperors.
This activity includes:
- Serapeum
- Pecile
- Antinoeion (Villa Adriana)
- Villa Adriana
- Ninfeo Fede (Tempio di Venere)
- Maritime Theater
- Canopus
- Piccole Terme
On arrival
From Roma Termini
- Option 1 – Train + local transfer
Take a regional train from Roma Termini to Tivoli (FM2/FL2 line, direction Pescara/Tivoli).
Arrive at Tivoli station.
From there you can choose:
Take CAT bus 4 or 4X directly to the Villa Adriana entrance
Or take a COTRAL bus toward the Villa Adriana area and walk approximately 10–20 minutes to the site
From Roma Tiburtina
- Option 1 – Faster train
Take a regional train from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli (FL2 line).
Once in Tivoli:
Take CAT bus 4 or 4X to Villa Adriana
Or take a COTRAL bus and walk 10–20 minutes depending on the stop
This is generally the fastest train option from Rome.
COTRAL direct bus from Rome
Go to Metro B – Ponte Mammolo.
Take a COTRAL bus to Tivoli (via Prenestina or via Tiburtina routes).
Get off near the Villa Adriana / Via Tiburtina area.
Walk approximately 1–2 km following signs to the archaeological site.
This option is usually cheaper but includes a short walk along main roads.
From Bagni di Tivoli (Tivoli Terme)
Take a train from Rome and get off at Bagni di Tivoli station.
From there:
Take a COTRAL bus toward Tivoli / Villa Adriana
Or a local bus serving the Villa Adriana area
Get off at the closest stop and walk 10–15 minutes to the entrance.
General tips
The combination train + CAT 4/4X bus is usually the simplest option.
COTRAL buses may not stop directly at the entrance, so a short walk is often required.
Tickets: train via Trenitalia; bus tickets at kiosks, tobacconists, or official apps.
Cancellation policy
You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.
