Tivoli
Tivoli, a city with ancient origins
Hello friends! Today we are talking about Tivoli, an Italian town located in the metropolitan city of Rome, in Lazio. About 54,687 people live here and we are sure that many people know where this city is, but do you know its history and physical geography? Let's find out together!
Physical geography
The territory of Tivoli is located on the slopes of the Tiburtini Mountains, between the Roman countryside and the municipalities of Castel Madama and Vicovaro in the inland east of the province of Rome. The Aniene River runs through the city and its climate is in zone D of the climate classification.
History
Tivoli, formerly called Tibur, boasts of being older than Rome. According to the historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus, it dates back to 1215 BC and was founded by the Aborigines. It stood on the left bank of the Aniene, where the fortifications of the current district of San Paolo were built in the 11th-10th centuries BC. Over time, the acropolis and ancient buildings approached the river, where the Tiburtine citizens of the Middle Ages huddled.
According to Marcus Porcius Cato, the Sicilians who lived here were expelled by the Greeks and their three sons, Tibur, Corace, and Catillo, renamed the city after the older brother. The Romans called the city Tiburi, Tibori, Tiboli, and finally Tivoli, whose name has been preserved to this day.
Cultural syncretism
Ancient Tibur was a meeting point of different populations, mainly Sabines and Latins, as confirmed by the great sanctuary of Hercules Victor, a deified hero of Greek origin, protector of trade and places where it took place. It is still present in the city and was restored in June 2011. Different populations came together in Tivoli to trade, as happened near the ford of the Tiber in the Forum Boarium in pre-Archaic times.
Tivoli over time
In the 4th century BC, after joining the Latin League, Tivoli fought against Rome that wanted to subjugate Lazio, until the League was definitively defeated. It helped Rome during the Punic Wars and became one of the main supply points for the troops.
After the transition from republic to empire, Tivoli consolidated as a commercial and residential center, becoming the seat of many villas of wealthy Romans, as evidenced by the numerous remains still visible today. In the 1st century BC it became a Municipium with the Lex Julia Municipalis. During the Civil War, it remained neutral.
Conclusions
These are some information about ancient Tivoli, a city with ancient origins, a rich history, and important cultural syncretism. The city is more than a tourist destination, it is a cultural and archaeological heritage worth knowing and appreciating. What are you waiting for to visit it?
