GTL 8 Lazio from Zagarolo to Tivoli

TOWARDS THE APENNINES: THE IMPERIAL VILLAS, FROM HADRIAN TO NERO.

with the eighth stage, the GTL shifts into lighter gears and pushes into a new environment, never touched before: the mountains. The Lazio region is an Apennine mountain, rough, genuine, which despite not reaching the altitudes of the Alps knows how to offer the cyclist panoramic roads of incredible beauty. From Zagarolo we head north for this stage of approach to the Tiburtini Mountains, only 39 km for a slightly uphill altimetric trend: our destination is in fact Tivoli, but to get there we have to pass a couple of valleys, cross the beautiful villages of Gallicano, Casape and San Gregorio di Sassola, along winding and swinging roads sheltered by the shade of the woods. After crossing the A24 motorway, the last kilometers before Tivoli are gradually ascending through the vineyards. Once we reach our destination, a number of archaeological and tourist sites of world importance leave us spoiled for choice: if the most famous of the attractions remains Hadrian's Villa, the private residence of the Roman emperor of the same name, Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana and their fountains offer an incomparable spectacle. The Aniene also passes through Tivoli, which after being born in the Simbruini mountains crosses this city immediately before throwing itself headlong into the scenic waterfalls, and then calming down and flowing into the Tiber in Rome