TIVOLI (anc. Tibia.), a poor t. of central Italy, province of Rome, 18 m.e. from Rome, stands on the slope of Monte Ripoli, one of the.Apennines. Tivoli is walled, and has a fortress. The streets are steep, narrow, and beset by beggars. There is a fine cath drat formerly a temple of Hercules, where Augustus held his tribunal. The surround ing hills are covered with olive trees. The vines of Tivoli are famed for a peculiar sort of grape, in great request for its firmness and luscious flavor, noticed as early as the time of Pliny the Elder. The stone called " travertino," of which great part of Rome is built comes from Tivoli. Pop. 8,000. Near Tivoli is the extensive villa d'Este. Within and without the city there are many monuments of antiquity. In a commanding position above the falls of the Anio rises the temple of Vesta, of a circular form, and in good preservation, built 70 B.C. ; there are th,i extensive remains of the emperor Hadrian's magnificent villa; the villa of Maecenas; remains of mausoleums, aqueducts, baths, etc.
The place is much visited by tourists for its waterfalls, which are lofty, but not very picturesque.
Tibur long existed as a town (according to ancient tradition) before the building of Rome; but the first mention of it in recorded history occurs 446 B.C., during the Roman decemvirate. It was one of the principal towns of the Latin confederation. Its healthy and picturesque situation induced many of the wealthy Romans to choose it for their country residences. Mwcenas, Scipio, lEmilianus, the famous Marius, Metellus Numid icus, and Munatius Plancus, had their Tiburtine villas. Horace preferred Tibur to all other places of resort (although he makes allusion to its moist atmosphere, calling it " Udum Tibur "), and had a country-house in the neighborhood. It is one of the few towns of Latium which will stand on their ancient sites.