March and it is already spring here in Rome. Therefore people are willing to be in the greenery of parks and gardens. This reminds me of my loveliest clients, Brian and Marina, and their 3 kids, who asked me to take them to a nice place outside Rome. Here is where I took them: Villa D'Este.
I think they considered this place one of the highlights of their trip to Italy, and their kids loved it.
Villa D'Este was created by one of a kind man, the Cardinal Ippolito D'Este, son of that famous Lucretia Borgia, daughter of the naughty Spanish Pope Alexander VI Borgia. The cardinal tried to become pope 5 times in his life, without success. In 1550 he became governor of Tivoli, a town just 45 miles from Rome, and he moved into a convent connected with the church of St. Maria Maggiore. The new residence was inadequate for his high rank, so he sent his architect Pirro Ligorio to study the place.
The result, after 20 years, was the Villa D'Este, a palace decorated by the best artists of that time: Livio Agresti, Cesare Nebbia, Girolamo Muziano, and the wonderful Italian garden with 51 fountains, 398 gushes, 64 waterfalls.
I think they considered this place one of the highlights of their trip to Italy, and their kids loved it.
Villa D'Este was created by one of a kind man, the Cardinal Ippolito D'Este, son of that famous Lucretia Borgia, daughter of the naughty Spanish Pope Alexander VI Borgia. The cardinal tried to become pope 5 times in his life, without success. In 1550 he became governor of Tivoli, a town just 45 miles from Rome, and he moved into a convent connected with the church of St. Maria Maggiore. The new residence was inadequate for his high rank, so he sent his architect Pirro Ligorio to study the place.
The result, after 20 years, was the Villa D'Este, a palace decorated by the best artists of that time: Livio Agresti, Cesare Nebbia, Girolamo Muziano, and the wonderful Italian garden with 51 fountains, 398 gushes, 64 waterfalls.
Neptune Fountain in Villa D'este, credit to Richard Mortel through Flickr.com
| The cardinal created 3 branches from the town's aqueduct to feed his fountains, which use the Aniene river water. A hydraulic machine of 500 liters of water per second still works after centuries. The most amazing fountains are the Fountain of the Organ, which produced music thanking a subterranean hydraulic system that was recently restored. The Fountain of Ovato with a waterfall under which I used to walk when I was a child.  The 100 fountains in Villa D'este, credit to Riccardo Cuppini through Flickr.com |  Ovato Fountain in Villa D'este, credit to Neo_II, through Flickr.com The one hundred fountains which show strange faces of animals. To end with the scenographical Fountain of Neptune the most photographed fountain of the villa, viewed from the great fishing ponds used once to provide the Cardinal with fresh fish. The interior of the villa is also a paradise for the art lovers and the decorations and grotesque were painted to delight the eye of the visitor. |
| The masters involved in the frescoes are the same that can be admired in the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museums. Every inch of the interiors is decorated with grotesque, and in every corner, the family symbol of the cardinal, the lilies, and the eagle can be found as well as the symbol of the grandfather of the cardinal, the bull Borgia. Practical information: You need to be determined to arrive in Tivoli by public transportation as the train doesn't run too often here. You will need to walk a while to reach the villa from the station. |  Interior decoration representing River Gods, in Villa D'este, credit to jnshaumeyer through Flickr.com |
If you take the bus, like I did many times, you need to be patient because you will find a crowded fauna of commuters. The villa is worth this labor of Hercules, though.
With the bus: Reach Ponte Mammolo with the B line of the subway. Here you find the beginning of the buses. They go via a highway or via Tiburtina street. It is only known by God if you will see less traffic on one or the other way.
With the bus: Reach Ponte Mammolo with the B line of the subway. Here you find the beginning of the buses. They go via a highway or via Tiburtina street. It is only known by God if you will see less traffic on one or the other way.
The 'hidden ticket area' to purchase your 'Cotral' bus ticket is below the bus station, near the bar, just at the subway station. Grab your return tickets and wait for the 'Caron' bus. Trying to find an available seat will be a challenge. I would recommend moving after 10.
I did it several times, and I was alone, so I'm sure you can make it!
If you wish to visit Hadrian Villa, buses leave from the gardens at the city entrance near piazza Garibaldi. If you have to choose, I would always go for the Villa D'Este, but this is a very personal choice.
If you need any further information, contact me through http://www.mylovelyrome.com
I did it several times, and I was alone, so I'm sure you can make it!
If you wish to visit Hadrian Villa, buses leave from the gardens at the city entrance near piazza Garibaldi. If you have to choose, I would always go for the Villa D'Este, but this is a very personal choice.
If you need any further information, contact me through http://www.mylovelyrome.com
View from the top of the Neptune fountain towards the fishing ponds, Villa D'Este, credit to Neo_II through Flickr.com
