Villa d’Este is one of the symbols of the Italian Renaissance, an architectural and scenic jewel of Tivoli declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, governor of Tivoli and son of Lucrezia Borgia, who revived here the splendors of the courts of Ferrara and Rome.
The project, the work of the ingenious painter-archaeologist-architect Pirro Ligorio, was carried out by court architect Alberto Galvani.
The Villa was nearly completed when Ippolito d’Este died in 1572.
Further interventions in the 17th century were followed by a period of decline, until Cardinal Gustav Adolf von Hohenlohe revived its splendor by also hosting the musician Ferenc Liszt (1811-1886).
Acquired by the Italian state, between the 1920s and 1930s the Villa was restored and opened to the public.
The entire complex covers 4 hectares and includes, in addition to the residential palace, a celebrated garden adorned with tree-lined avenues and hedges, and numerous fountains, true works of art.
Today one enters from Piazza Trento, adjacent to the church of S. Maria Maggiore, passing through the 16th-century portal, surmounted by the coat of arms of Cardinal Bernardino Carvajal, while the original entrance to the Este estate opened into the historic center just past the Porta del Colle.
Thus, the route started from the garden, until it reached the majestic palace, characterized by an elegant facade opened by the so-called Vialone.
Most of the outdoor fountains can be considered water theaters, such as the Rometta, featuring a sculpture of Rome enthroned, or the imposing Ovato Fountain, more commonly called the Tivoli Fountain, an architectural backdrop that concludes the equally well-known Avenue of the Hundred Fountains.
Of particular interest are the Fontana del Bicchierone, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and the so-called “musical fountains,” the Fontana degli Uccelli and the Fontana dell’Organo, equipped with a number of water-operated devices that reproduce musical harmonies.
More recent, but equally beautiful, is the Neptune Fountain, one of the most photographed places by tourists and citizens alike.
The Cardinal’s villa was adorned with many statues of the Olympian gods, Hercules Sassano protector of Tivoli and some colossal Egyptian statues.
Today nothing remains of the original ornaments because the economic difficulties of the House of Este in Modena prompted them to be sold as early as the 18th century.
From Rome: Travel A24 highway exit Tivoli, continue on Maremmana Inferiore road until it joins Via Tiburtina. Continue to the center of Tivoli. Alternatively, drive directly along Via Tiburtina. From L'Aquila: Drive along highway A24 exit Castel Madama, take Via Empolitana, Via Acquaregna and follow the signs to the city center. \ Parking: Multi-storey parking lot at the foot of Rocca Pia a few hundred meters from Villa d'Este or alternatively parking in Piazza Garibaldi (both for a fee).
From Rome: Metro B to Ponte Mammolo stop,
from there take Co.Tra.L. bus via Prenestina or via Tiburtina
or via highway (preferred) to Tivoli.
Get off at Largo delle Nazioni Unite
(near Piazza Garibaldi) and walk
for a few dozen meters.
From Villa Adriana: Local bus line CAT 4, Co.Tra.L. bus via Tiburtina about one kilometer from the site of Villa Adriana.
From Termini Station or Tiburtina Station to Tivoli FS station. Continue on foot following the signs for Villa d'Este.
From the square in front of the train station in Bagni di Tivoli direct bus connection to Villa Adriana. More information on the combined Trenitalia - CAT Tivoli service.
Easily find all the tourist sites to visit in Tivoli
