Tivoli and Vieste

Days
3 & 4

4/19 - After a few days in Rome we were very happy to be heading to Puglia and a nice sleepy seaside town. We made a day trip to tour Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, then it was on to Vieste. We did a quick poll on the bus. Nobody had heard of Vieste. Patricia told us to get some rest because things were going to pick up a bit. Wait what? I thought this was a sleepy little town? Appetizers and Prosecco were waiting for us at 6:30 when we downloaded our luggage. Being full after appetizers we indulged in some chocolate and drank some white wine while enjoying the sea breeze.

4/20 - Someone said at breakfast we were heading down to the marina and getting on a boat. The weather was good and we were going on a three hour tour. Where have we heard that before? After some layering we headed down and hoped on our boat. What came next wowed us all but first Hadrian's Villa...

Hadrian's Villa

Apparently Hadrian was Rome's answer to our Bob the Builder. He is credited for rebuilding parts of Rome and building that little wall in Britain. Legend has it that he disliked the palace on Palatine Hill in Rome and constructed his villa around 120 AD. The grounds are vast covering a square kilometer easily outsizing Pompeii. The complex had a reflecting pool, theater, libraries, thermal baths, guest quarters, and oh The Imperial Palace.

01 / 12

Canopus pool.

Vieste

Seeing the coastline from the Adriatic was a highlight of the tour for many of us. We visited a number of grottos, saw limestone cliffs, and got lost in the turquoise hue of the water. We had perfect weather and calm seas. A truly a magical experience. And we were not stranded with Gilligan.

01 / 20

What a neat little town.

Tivoli and Vieste

Days 3 & 4

Hadrian's Villa

Vieste

Next: Matera

Days
3 & 4