22 Feb 2023
Our experience with Through Eternity started with the ease of making the reservation. The chat feature on their website was usually answered live, but if I sent a message after business hours, I got a reply back soon. We asked to change the day for our tour and Through Eternity was able to accommodate us.
My wife and I did this tour today, everything about it was first class. Our guide, John Tinto, met us in our hotel lobby on time and our comfortable Mercedes was outside. John gave us commentary about the things we were passing on the way to Tivoli.
Hadrian’s Villa originally covered an area bigger than Pompeii, about half of which you can see today. We did not miss any of it and John’s commentary and knowledge of history allowed us to paint a mental picture of what it would’ve looked like then. After Hadrian we stopped for lunch a a place recommended by our driver. Excellent pizza and no tourists. While Hadrian’s was in ruins, Villa d’Este was in much the same shape it was when it was built. I was prepared for beautiful gardens, but what was most impressive were the still working fountains. The view from the foot of the gardens was stunning.
Wear comfortable shoes on this trip as there is a lot of walking and some climbing of stairs and hills, but if this 72 year old guy can do it, so can you. Highly recommended.