Roman fountains – without a doubt – are one of Rome’s many features that make it such a magical destination.
A trip to the eternal city just isn’t complete without time spent marveling at Roman fountains. If Rome’s ever been on your radar as a potential travel destination, you’ve most likely heard of the Trevi Fountain. It’s a gorgeous piece of architecture that draws millions of tourists every year, and legend has it that visitors who toss a coin into the fountain will be certain to return to Rome again. Who wouldn’t want to come back to Rome?
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While Roman fountains are a must when visiting the city, Rome can be an oppressively hot place depending on the time of the year you choose to go. And no matter how captivating and historical significant and intriguing Roman fountains might be, it can be difficult to enjoy them in the sweltering heat.
Roman fountains in Villa d’Este
If you ever find yourself in Rome at this time of year and on the hunt for Roman fountains while trying to stay cool, you might consider taking a short trip out to Villa d’Este, a 16th-century villa in Tivoli. It’s a town located less than an hour east of Rome that’s filled with an astonishing array of Roman fountains.
Now, it’s not home to the famous Trevi Fountain, but the Villa d’Este boasts a total of 51 fountains and nymphaeums, so you’ll definitely get your Roman fountain fix there. Tivoli is also perched at a higher elevation than the Rome, so temperatures are pleasantly cooler and it’s easier to focus on appreciating the beauty and history of the town. Tivoli is a UNESCO site, and we have been told that this was the model for what has come to be known as the Italian style of a formal garden.
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We visited this amazing place through a tour we booked with a company called Gray Line and spent a total of $80. After seeing Villa d’Este, we went to another UNESCO site called Hadrian’s Villa. It’s a bit of a wreck, but it’s worth the visit, especially with an informed guide. The whole trip can be done in half a day, in time to get you back to town for that evening drink in Trastevere.
To learn more about Villa d’Este, click here. Check out the tour we took with Gray Line here. And click here to see a list of 12 Roman fountains (including the Trevi Fountain) to see in Italy.
