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Residenze Gregoriane

Temple of Vesta and the Sibyl

The Temple of Vesta is the most well-known monument in Tivoli. The place where the Temple of Vesta stands is called the Acropolis of Tivoli and is located at the end of the nature trail of Villa Gregoriana. In the same place, there is also another temple, rectangular in shape, known as the Temple of the Sibyl or of Tiburnus. In reality, the exact attribution of the temples is not known because unfortunately the historical sources are not certain. According to some scholars, the temple we know today as the Temple of Vesta was actually a temple dedicated to Tiburnus, the founder of Tivoli. Many others, however, are convinced that it was built for the Sibyl Albunea who, according to Christian mythology, was the one who predicted the coming of Jesus. The same fate befell the rectangular temple, which is attributed either to Tiburnus or to the Sibyl.