Villa d’Este, is villa in Tivoli which has one of the greatest Italian gardens in history and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It consists of fountains, nymphs, grottoes and water-driven mechanisms that produce visual effects and play music. The garden at Villa d'Este would go on to become a much-copied model for European gardens in the mannerist and baroque styles. Set within the landscape of Tivoli itself – surrounded by so much natural beauty, art and history with scenery rich in caves and waterfalls and ancient ruins such as Villa Adriana – Villa d'Este leaves an even greater impression on visitors. Just find a luxury villa in Lazio and spend a day at the villa getting a little lost, wandering, grabbing a bite to eat and taking in the incredible surroundings.
The villa was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este. After he became Governor of Tivoli in 1550, he was granted the pre-existing building on the site and surrounding lands which he immediately decided to set about transforming into a magnificent garden and building to rival the legends of Rome and Babylon. Work, however, was only begun after 1560 once he managed to get painter-architect-archeologist Pirro Ligorio and court architect Alberto Galvani on board. The interior of the villa was decorated under the tutelage of the stars of the late Roman Mannerism, such as Livio Agresti, Federico Zuccari, Durante Alberti, Girolamo Muziano, Cesare Nebbia and Antonio Tempesta. The gardens were created as a terraced extravaganza of shady trees and show-stopping fountains.
From 1605 Cardinal Alessandro d'Este gave the go-ahead to a new program of work to restore and repair the vegetation and waterworks and to embellish the layout of the garden and the decoration of the fountains.
In the 18th century the lack of maintenance led to the decay of the complex and the garden was slowly abandoned. The water works fell into ruin from a lack of use and the collection of ancient statues was disassembled and scattered. In the 19th century work was undertaken to resolve this and the gardens became internationally famous once more. During WWI, the villa became a property of the Italian State, and was restored and opened to the public in the 1920s.
Highlights of the garden include the Rometta Fountain, a tribute to Rome with recreations of the city's monuments, the Bicchierone fountain by Bernini, the Ovato fountain backed by a nymphaeum and the Water Organ. You can also eat in the café with views over the gardens. If you're spending time in Lazio, a visit here is just the thing to unwind and relax.
In the 18th century the lack of maintenance led to the decay of the complex and the garden was slowly abandoned. The water works fell into ruin from a lack of use and the collection of ancient statues was disassembled and scattered. In the 19th century work was undertaken to resolve this and the gardens became internationally famous once more. During WWI, the villa became a property of the Italian State, and was restored and opened to the public in the 1920s.
Highlights of the garden include the Rometta Fountain, a tribute to Rome with recreations of the city's monuments, the Bicchierone fountain by Bernini, the Ovato fountain backed by a nymphaeum and the Water Organ. You can also eat in the café with views over the gardens. If you're spending time in Lazio, a visit here is just the thing to unwind and relax.
Photo credits
Picture 1: Fczarnowski / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 2: Fczarnowski / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 3: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0
Picture 1: Fczarnowski / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 2: Fczarnowski / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 3: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0