Villa Gregoriana, Historical park in Tivoli, Italy
Villa Gregoriana is a park in Tivoli, Italy, that spans multiple levels along a gorge. The landscape includes limestone caves, terraces with native plants, and a 394-foot (120-meter) waterfall created by redirecting the Aniene River.
In 1834, Pope Gregory XVI commissioned architect Giuseppe Jappelli to redirect the Aniene River through artificial tunnels to protect Tivoli from floods. Engineers of the 19th century blasted through the rock and created a gorge that now forms the heart of the park.
The name honors Pope Gregory XVI, who initiated the project to save Tivoli from recurring floods. Visitors today explore the grottoes and viewpoints that show how nature and human intervention combine in a single space.
The paths lead down steps and across terraces to different caves and viewpoints; sturdy footwear is recommended because of uneven surfaces. Handrails secure the trails along the gorge, but some sections require good mobility and steady footing.
The engineers blasted a double tunnel over 984 feet (300 meters) long through solid rock to divert the water. This intervention ranks among the largest hydraulic projects of the 19th century and permanently changed the entire landscape of Tivoli.
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