Today we loaded onto the bus and took a day trip to Tivoli. Our first stop was Hadrian’s Villa, the largest villa from the Roman Empire. This villa was a juxtaposition of materials from all over the Empire, and our tour guide even pointed out small pieces of mosaics that were buried in the dirt. It was difficult to imagine that this was one man’s home!
Group picture at the top of Rocca Bruna, the tower where Hadrian would study the stars
Pieces of mosaic that we found in Hadrian’s Villa
After lunch in downtown Tivoli (consisting of pasta and tiramisu, of course), we finally got the Lizzie McGuire moment we’ve been waiting for: running by the fountains in the gardens of Villa d’Este! The gardens are a result of Cardinal d’Este dealing with repetitive failure. Each time he was not chosen as the next Pope, he would add on to the garden. Today, he’s more famous because of his gardens than he would have been had he been Pope.
Trying to look as cute as Lizzie McGuire did in the Gardens of Villa d’Este
The gardens were definitely a class favorite. We had time to wander around on our own, and the peace and quiet allowed us to relax. Some girls even whipped out their Kindles and used the time to read by the fountains.
Gardens in Villa D’Este
Overall, today has made us all think about how much architecture and design have changed over the years. However, the landmarks that we are seeing in Rome influenced a lot of the architecture that we find today. It’s also interesting to note that whether it was 2000 years ago or today, people continue to show their power and wealth through their projects.
The end of this week signifies being 1/3 of the way finished with Joseph S. Bruno. It seems like we were just moving into the Chigi Palace, but what an experience it has been so far!
Kelly Schmid
- “What Dreams Are Made Of” by Dean Pitchford and Matthew Wilder from the soundtrack of ‘The Lizzie McGuire Movie’