Guest User
June 23, 2023
Absolutely splendid place to stay in the charmingly ancient town of Tivoli. The website doesn't work properly, so completely ignore it except for the pictures. The Residenze is a real Renaissance palazzo that was restored by a previous owner as his home, and much of what's there is his delightfully theatrical decorating job. The baths beneath, in the Roman style, he created lovingly from scratch. There are only four suites, and we stayed in the best and most expensive. It consisted of a main room about 25 feet square, with sofa, desk/table, TV, and a restored antique Foosball table! The bedroom is almost the same size, though a modern bathroom takes a slice out of one side, with a chaise longue on a mezzanine above. Both rooms have ceilings that are about fifteen feet high, and are beautifully decorated in period style. The bed was excellent and the AC quiet and effective, important with temperatures in the nineties while we were there. There are shutters on the windows that keep it cool and shady inside, though it is possible to open them. There are two sets of windows that help keep it quiet inside. The Palazzo is built around a beautiful courtyard decorated with shell and marble mosaics and fragrant with star jasmine. Breakfast is served there, a nice continental spread with pastries, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit, meats and cheeses, and toast. It was plentiful and tasty. The staff are all marvelous, available to take care of anything. Just after we arrived and were sitting enjoying a drink in the courtyard, Filippo was offering to make dinner reservations for our two nights. Both restaurants he recommended were excellent and within a ten-minute walk. The hotel has private parking, reached via a long stairway leading to a back exit. The staff will happily help you bring your car around to the front door, where luggage can be handled more easily. Also within an easy walk is the Villa d'Este, one of Tivoli's two main attractions. The other, Hadrian's Villa, is a short drive away. He also recommended we visit the Villa Gregoriana. Despite its name, it's a park that includes the wildly scenic gorge of the Aniene River, with an excellent hike down into the gorge and back up the other side. Both ends are an easy walk from the hotel. Tivoli is well worth visiting for a couple of days, and is about a simple ninety minute drive from Fiunicino Airport. We stayed there our last two days and dropped our car on the day of the flight. It worked out great for an afternoon flight. Our experience at the Residenze Gregoriane was entirely positive. No, it isn't cheap, but it's a very special place where you'll be treated extremely well and it has ameniities few other hotels can offer. I hope to return some day.