Villa Gregoriana - Bene FAI

Loaned to FAI by the Italian State in 2002.
In the city of Tivoli, only half an hour from Rome, Villa Gregoriana preserves a rich heritage, resonating with the sublime imagery that was so popular in the Romantic period. Nature, history, archaeology and craft merge in such an enthralling blend that in the 19th century this site became a must-see destination of the Grand Tour and the most popular subject in the paintings portraying Tivoli.
In 1832, on the initiative of Pope Gregory XVI, an impressive work of hydraulic engineering was undertaken to contain the unceasing floods of river Aniene. The stream was deviated in a double tunnel dug into Mount Catillo: the water, channeled in this bottleneck, increased its level and fell in the artificial 120 meters waterfall known as Cascata Grande, which is today the second highest waterfall in Italy, behind Marmore Falls. In addition to that, the Pope created the Garden that bears his name and was, for over a century, a favoured destination for artists, writers and men of culture, who disclosed its beauty to the whole world.
After World War II, Villa Gregoriana became the property of the State and in 2002 it was loaned to FAI. At that time, the site was in an advanced state of abandonment and hydrogeological instability.
FAI's commitment, however, brought it back to life: in 2005, Villa Gregoriana reopened to visitors, who today can immerse themselves in the most luxuriant greenery, walk through the old trails finally free from brambles, smell the scents previously buried under decades of neglect and abandonment, use all the senses to discover the 74 tree species found in the park, explore interesting relics of past eras. Among these, the highlights are the remains of the Villa of the Roman Manlius Vopiscus, a sumptuous residence celebrated by Stazio, and the acropolis which includes the roman temples of Sibyl and Tiburno.