Villa d'Este

Villa d'Este is a villa in Tivoli, near Rome, Italy, and is a very good example of Renaissance architecture with a garden in the style of Italian renaissance, being included in the UNESCO heritage. From Rome, it is easy to reach Tivoli, by the Cotral Roma-Tivoli line or by the Roma-Pescara train station.

Villa d'Este was ordered by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, son of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia and nephew of Pope Alexander VI. He was named the Governor of Tivoli by Pope Julius III, received as a gift this villa, which he rebuilt after the plans of Pirro Ligorio, under the guidance of architect Ferrarese and Alberto Galvani. The painter who made the interior decoration was Livio Agresti of Forli.

What's worth visiting in Villa d'Este:

• Grand Logia (The work of the architect Pirro Ligorio) and the place where you can have a spectacular panorama over Tivoli;
• Fontana dell'Ovato is one of the central places of the Garden;
• Le Cento Fontane (The 100 Fountains) The Gardens are bordered by these wonderful fountains;
• Rometta fountain, where you can get a great view of the gardens.

From 1550 until his death in 1572, Cardinal d'Este created a sumptuous décor, surrounded by a terraced garden, spectacular, featuring cascades, jets and artesian fountains, all fed from a water tank that originated from the Aniene River .

Villa d'Este opens at 08:30 and remains open until 19:45 during the summer months and in the winter months until 17:00. It is generally closed on Mondays, and on January 1, May 1 and December 25.