Description:
Like Hadrian centuries before, Cardinal Ippolito d'Este of Ferrara believed in heaven on Earth, and in the mid-16th century he ordered this villa built on a hillside. The dank Renaissance structure is not that noteworthy; the big draw for visitors are the spectacular gardens below (designed by Pirro Ligorio).
You descend the cypress-studded slope to the bottom and are rewarded with everything from lilies to gargoyles spouting water, torrential streams, and waterfalls. The loveliest fountain is the Ovato Fountain (Fontana dell Ovato). But nearby is the more spectacular achievement: the Fountain of the Hydraulic Organ (Fontana dell'Organo Idraulico), dazzling with its water jets in front of a baroque chapel, with four maidens who look tipsy. The moss-covered Fountain of the Dragons (Fontana dei Draghi), also by Ligorio, and the so-called Fountain of Glass (Fontana di Vetro), by Bernini, are the most intriguing. The best walk is along the promenade, with 100 spraying fountains. The garden provides hours of exploration, but it's a lot of walking, with some steep climbs.
- © Frommer's 2012
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Awards:
Frommer's
- Highly Recommended 2009
- Highly Recommended 2010
- Details
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Contact:
- visit website
- tel: +39 4 2446 4191
- fax: +39 4 2460 0460
- send email
Address:
- piazza Trento 1
- Piazza Trento, Viale delle Centro Fontane
- Tivoli 00019
Hours:
- 8:30a-one hour before dusk Tu-Su
Strenuousness:
- Moderate
- User Rating
