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, Rome)]] The Villa of the Emperor Hadrian at Tivoli , Italy , even in ruined condition is one of the most spectacular Roman gardens of which it is possible still to get a sense by visiting the site. "Walking around it today, it is still possible to experience something of the variety of architectural forms and settings, and the skillful way in which Hadrian and his architect have contrived the meetings of the axes, the surprises that await the turning of a corner, and the vistas that open to view." Sir Banister Fletcher wrote in his ''History of Architecture.'' The villa created at Tibur as a retreat from Rome for Hadrian early in the 2nd century was a complex of over 30 buildings, covering an area of at least 1 square kilometre (c. 250 acres) of which much is still unexcavated. Hadrian's Villa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Hadrian's Villa was the greatest Roman example of an Alexandrian garden, recreating a sacred landscape, still traceable in spite of the despoliation of the ruins by the Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, who had much of the marble removed to build his gardens at the Villa D'Este nearby. Hadrian's villa included a pool and an artificial grotto that were named Canopus and Serapeum, respectively. Canopus was an Egyptian city where a temple ( Serapeum ) was dedicated to the god Serapis . However, the architecture is Greek influenced (typical in Roman architecture of the High and Late Empire) as seen in the Corinthian columns and the copies of famous Greek statues that surround the pool. One anecdote involves Serapeum and its peculiarly-shaped dome. A prominent architect of the day, Apollodorus Of Damascus , dismisses Hadrian's designs, comparing the dome on Serapeum to a "pumpkin". The full quote is "Go away and draw your pumpkins. You know nothing about these {Link without Title} matters." Once Hadrian becomes emperor, Apollodorus is exiled and later put to death. The Villa shows echoes of many different architectural orders, mostly Greek and Egyptian. Hadrian, a very well travelled Emperor borrowed these designs, such as the caryatids by the Canopus, along with the statues beside them depicting the Egyptian dwarf and fertility god, Bes. A Greek so called "Maritime Theatre" exhibits classical ionic style, whereas the domes of the main buildings as well as the corinthian arches of the Canopus and Serapeum show clear Roman architecture. Many beautiful artifacts have been unearthed and restored at the Villa, such as marble statues of Antinous, Hadrian's deified lover, accidentally drowned in Egypt, and mosaics from the theatre and baths. Many copies of Greek statues (ie. the Wounded Amazon) have been found, and even Egyptian-style interpretations of Roman gods and vice versa. Most of these have been taken to Rome for preservation and restoration, and can be seen at the Musei Capitolini or the Musei Vaticani. The Villa is open to the public with a small admission fee. EXTERNAL LINKS
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