Discover the 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage site, Villa d’Este, a mind-boggling palace and garden of architectural genius. Visit Hadrian’s Villa, or Villa Adriana, the impressive home of Emperor Hadrian in the second century. Walk in the lavish garden of Villa d’Este, set on a hilltop and one of Italy’s most extraordinary structures. Explore four hectares of magnificent lawns, romantic terraces, and impressive water features, at your leisure. Marvel at an awe-inspiring piece of Renaissance culture. The innovative garden design, with the Hundred Fountains, the Oval Fountain, and the Vialone Terrace. Stroll around the villa, stopping to admire the fresco-bedecked apartments and imagine living here in the 16th century. Visit Villa Adriana, an important archaeological site, set on 120 hectares of the countryside below Tivoli. Learn of the Greek, Roman and Egyptian aspects of this second-century masterpiece. Be impressed by the scale of this masterpiece and see a theatre, a stadium, water features, libraries and thermal baths, among the UNESCO-listed ruins.

Enjoy a cruise shore excursion from Civitavecchia to Tivoli, take a tour of Hadrian's Villa, and Villa d'Este, and learn the history of each site, from their construction to the modern-day on this shore excursion. Leave your cruise ship and be met by your driver to travel to Tivoli. Relax in a private air conditioned vehicle and admire the scenery on the way to the first stop on the tour, Via Tiburtina. See Via Tiburtina, where the marble that makes up the Colosseum was sourced, and see the quarry, which is still in use today. Hop back in the vehicle to move on to Hadrian's Villa, a spectacular ruin. Arrive at Hadrian's Villa, one of the most magnificent ancient Roman ruins in the world, and see the sprawling estate, which includes a palace, theatres, expansive gardens, pools, and fountains. Explore the buildings and gardens around the villa, spread over an area twice the size of the ruins of Pompeii. Learn about the life, career, and artistic tastes of the former emperor, inspired by his travels through the empire. Visit sites such as the Private Library and the Maritime Theatre, and be enchanted by the unique atmosphere of the villa and its gardens. Admire the famous Canopy, a lake surrounded by arcades and statues. Move on to the beautiful Villa d'Este, a sixteenth-century villa famous for its breathtaking beauty. Walk through the winding streets of the historic town center to reach the villa. Marvel at the luxurious rooms of the Villa, and see the spectacular frescoes that fill the rooms. Listen as the guide goes over the public and private life of d'Este, a patron of the arts and aspiring Pope. Return to Civitavecchia at the end of the tour to re-board your cruise ship and continue on your journey.