The Blonde Roman Tiber

So it was called in Rome, the Blonde Tiber, with its history of 3 thousand years.

Since its birth, the Tiber was considered the soul of Rome. A history began when Aeneas, fugitive of Troy, looking for a new country, going up the mouth of the Tiber reached a place inhabited by shepherds. There will be founded Rome.

The fact that the City owes its own being to the Tiber, is also described in the first scene of the legend of the foundation of Rome, with "Romulus and Remus in the basket that stranded in the river under a fig tree, suck the sweet nectar of the fruit dripping, waiting for a real feeding".

Were given to it different names over the years, the current one derives by the tradition of the Latin King Tiberino which would be drowned into.

Like many rivers it had a vital importance for the ancient Romans, the River itself was considered a divinity personified in Pater Tiberinus,with a feast and a temple dedicated. It was used for many centuries as a way of communication, all materials of Roman works, goods and agricultural products passed through here.

This water belt that divided the left bank, the old Rome from the right that was once called the periphery, was considered for long a sort of impassable border for Romans that for the countryside trips chose to move to the right bank of the river, in the now area of Trastevere.

A water belt not always conveniet, because of alluvions which often hit the city with tributes of deaths and devastation. Historical figures as Julius Caesar and Garibaldi presented plans to change the big course of the river, today it is protected by great walls. Do you know the fountain in the middle of Spain Steps? It was carved in 1629 by Bernini. Pope Urban VII was so impressed from a boat there hurled by the fury of the river during one of the many floods and wanted it to remain memory in the shape of the fountain. For the Romans it is nicknamed the "Barcaccia".

Tiber is a river of 400 km that born in 1268 meters height on the top of Mount Fumaiolo, in Tuscany and goes through Umbria and Lazio, reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea. Next to the source, a trickle of crystal-clear water, in the Thirties was built an ancient column dominated by the Imperial Roman Eagle turned towards Roma and an inscription on a marble plaque that says

"Here born the sacred river to the destiny of Rome".

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Villa D'Este - Renaissance masterpiece near Rome

Was Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, son of the famous Lucrezia Borgia,the founder of Villa d'Este in Tivoli not far from Rome.

Good deal for him to build his new residence on the already existing ruins of palaces and gardens constructed by the Emperor Adriano 2000 years ago. For the Cardinal and his architect there was nothing easier than to draw inspiration from what was under their nose, make his own and restyling a park already sumptuous and rich in Roman art.

Was the year 1550 when he wanted to do of Villa d 'Este the pride of his Family. Today I just think he well succeeded in his intention:

Villa d'Este is actually in the list of Unesco's World Heritage, warded several times for the most beautiful park in Italy and few years ago it was elected "the most beautiful Park in Europe" from the prestigious competition launched in the USA by Briggs & Stratton, in its first European edition.

An oasis rich in greenery and water selected by an international jury composed of botanists, architects, historians and journalists. Magnificent frescoes in the palace, while fountains, waterfalls and water games, in a wonderful series of terraces create suggestive corners in the gardens that smell of cypress and roses.

This masterpiece of "Italian garden style" has over half a million visitors a year, you will be enchanted immersed in this path of ancient architectures, waters, plants sculptures and secular tree.
Walking through the park is a continuous surprise, at every step you find fountains, waterfalls, caves and nymphaeums, that recall in the names and decorations the heroes and myths of ancient Greece. Impressive is the number of fountains, among the most famous we see the "Fontana dell'Ovato", the "Cento fontane" hundred fountains in the shape of lilies, obelisks and boats. One of the most special is the Organ fountain that utter real melodies through a complex hydraulic system. Even today you can hear the "note" of the fountain several times during the day.

Villa d'Este is much appreciated for the state of maintenance and the quality of the garden,but also for the modern and efficient services offered to visitors as the opportunity to have easy access to information and the attention to disabled and elderly people.
The beauty of Villa d'Este is hardly comparable with other parks.

It is located in Tivoli about thirty minutes from Rome, it's easily reachable by public transport. Take the Metro line B to Ponte Mammolo and then the bus for Tivoli.

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Transport for Rome

Two lines of Metro in Rome, 48 stations for a rail network of 36 km. A bus network of 2800 units for 350 different routes and then trams and regional trains. Not a bad range for the Roman public transport, numbers that are showing slow improvements but certainly have a "long way" still to do for a capital such of Rome with 2.8 million inhabitants and with over 20 million visitors a year.
Here you find some informations about the public lines wich you may need in Rome:

Subway has two lines: Metro A (marked by red) and Metro B (marked by blue), the logo of a white "M" on red background indicates the presence of a subway stop.
The two lines intersect in "Termini" Central station, the main hub of all public transports, local and regional. The Metro A has 27 stations through the capital from South-East to North-West, the gates are open at 05.30 and the service usually ends at 23:30 from Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, while ends at 1:30 on Friday and on Saturday. The timetable is just the same for the line B that with its 22 stations goes from South to North-East of Rome. Both of Metro run approximately every 3-5 minutes.

Buses and trams work from 5:30 am until midnight, from 00.30 until 5:30 am instead working more than 20 nigh lines, whose terminals are in Termini (Piazza del Cinquecento) and in Piazza Venezia.

The night bus stops are marked with an "N" and with the symbol of an owl, the tickets can be purchased directly on board. Tickets are the same for bus, tram and subway, can be purchased at any tobacconist and newspapers store or at the automatic machines inside any subway stations. Remember to buy your ticket before getting on buses because not all of them are equipped with tichet machines.

The cost of one ticket is 1 euro and it is valid for 75 minutes on buses and trams, and for a single run on subway, wherever you go. There is the chance to buy daily ticket at the price of 4euros, 3days ticket at 11euros and weekly ticket at 16euros.

For all the tourist facilities,discount cards and other details, take a look to the official website of Roman Public Transport.

Good journey in Rome!

http://www.atac.roma.it/

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