Villa d'Este is one of the symbols of the Italian Renaissance and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in Tivoli, near Rome, the villa is a gem of architectural and landscape splendor. The extraordinary complex is famous all over the world for its splendid fountains characterized by wonderful and suggestive water displays and for being the most beautiful example of the Italian Renaissance garden in Europe.
The villa was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, a former governor of Tivoli and son of Lucrezia Borgia, and the work was carried out by the ingenious architect Pirro Logorio. The works, which started in 1550 and lasted for about 20 years, had to overcome many difficulties. The water gushing from the many fountains, which can still be appreciated today in their great splendor, comes directly from the River Aniene through a 600-meter underground channel.
The whole complex extends for 4 hectares and includes a residential palace (the Palazzo d'Este), a garden adorned with tree- and hedge-lined avenues and around a hundred fountains which are real works of art.
