A flight mix-up departing from Rome has left us with 24 hours to spare in Italy, so we decide to make the most of our time with a train trip to the historical hilltop town of Tivoli – a popular retreat for Romans. A beautiful hilltop town 30km northeast of the capital, Tivoli has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and ancient ruins are dotted about its ridges and gullies in the Sabine Hills. But it’s the stunning Renaissance architecture that really sets it apart, and with only a day to explore, we jump right in.

DAY 1: Afternoon
We arrive at midday to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and jump on the Leonardo Express airport train ($23 a ticket) straight into Rome Termini station. We buy tickets from a dispensing machine for a regional train ($5.20) departing just a few platforms over, and within minutes, we are chugging our way towards Tivoli.