After arriving in Rome in the morning and getting seriously lost on the ring road. we finally made it to Hadrian's Villa around noon. We went from the merely old to the seriously ancient. The image shows the complete reconstruction - because of no wireless internet, I am going to post photos later. We almost escaped the rain, but got caught in a downpour, taking refuge in a roped off area in the Baths (along with a short nap). After a dash to Adriano restaurant (great tortellini with truffles, chased down by Amarone) by the gate, we found the Hotel Sirene in Tivoli down an impossibly small alley, with a ridiculously tiny parking space for our Smart Car. Fit with millimeters to spare!
The hotel is great - we have a terrace that looks at the Temple of Sybil and down into the gorge with a very noisy waterfall. Zonked out for four hours, then simple dinner of primavera pizza and insalta and yummy panna cotta with caramel. Tivoli is not a touristy town, but has a number of charming streets, squares and appropriately decrepit buildings. Tomorrow, Villa d' Este (if it stops raining)!
1 comment:
Hi Bill and Mary,
Tivoli is one of my favorite places, gotten lost there many times! We've stayed at Hotel Sirene in town and Adriano by the ruins. My favorite place to eat for dinner (too much for lunch) is Restaurant Sybila, on the temple ruins. We were introduced by a woman who lives in Rome and now go there every chance we can. Sit outside to enjoy the beautiful lit temple (if it's not raining!), and tell them you would like to try a tasting of several things. They will bring you a selection of many delicious antipastas! After dinner stay, of course, for the aperitifs because you don't have to drive home. You will actually be able to walk that food and drink off through those beautiful streets (and hopefully find your way back to your room!).
Since you have a car and maybe the time, one of my favorite hilltop towns is Cortona, near the Perugia region, before Montelpuchiana on the road north. It's a very steep, car free (there are places to park before entering the town), Italian village from the Etruscan period. There are some nice little places to stay here, just carry a light(!) bag up to your room. But at night, this sleepy little village wakes up and people of all ages come out from who knows where. There was a band playing in the piazza while we were there, but the wondering streets were packed with the locals. Old men with toddlers, stylish women with their infants in prams, teens, every age you can think of, strolling the streets and congregating with their family and friends. Ah how I love the nights in Italy! Cortona has plenty of restaurants and exploring to do. Much of Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed here.
That's my input. Have a great time!
Laura French
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