Villa d’Este – masterpiece of the Italian Garden travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Villa d’Este was built in 1550 for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, the son of Lucrezia Borgia and Alfonso d’Este. From 1550 until his death in 1572, one of the most erudite, cultured, intelligent and disconcerting men in Europe created his dream world: the most fabulous Mannerist garden. Nearly 500 years of myth and history have done nothing to dull the magic and mystery of the glorious Villa d’Este at Tivoli. It occupies a stretch of hillside below the town of Tivoli, with spectacular views over the plain towards Rome. Built around an earlier monastery, the building is lavishly decorated with frescoes, reliefs and internal fountains. The most striking part of the Villa d’Este is its garden. The garden is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its significance in the history of garden design, and its fountains are famous worldwide. With its impressive concentration of fountains, nymphs, grottoes, plays of water, and music, it constitutes a much-copied model for European gardens in the mannerist and baroque styles.

The Italian gardens, with their geometric compartmentalization, the five hundred fountains is certainly one of the finest gardens to be found both in and outside Italy. At the garden’s very epicenter is the fabulous, almost mystical Fountain of the Dragon. You’ll find the four-dragon head spouting fountain in a cave-like recess set between two steep stairways and two hand-hewn pools in the shapes of shells and dolphins. In ancient times, water (a key element in Italy‘s villa gardens) poured down from above, contributing to a spine-chilling roar that appeared to come from the dragon’s lair.

A number of the novelty fountains are activated during the day, with times displayed at the entrance. At the Fountain of the Owl, birds warble until a model owl appears to scare them into silence, while the Water Organ periodically offers musical entertainment to visitors. Notice boards and plans dotted around the garden offer historical information about the fountains, in English as well as Italian.

No visit is complete without a stop at the Grotto of Diana, richly stuccoed with mythological scenes, the so called “Rometta” or little Rome, with reproductions in an allusive key of parts of the city, the various Fountains of Bacchus, the Organ Fountain, the fountains of Proserpine, of the Dragons, of the “Mete”, of the Eagles, and so on, up to the romantic Cypress Rotonda, considered one of the most enchanting elements in both garden and villa.
Villa d’Este, a former 16th century princely residence, surrounded by a 25 acres park, is more than just a hotel. The luxury and magnificence of a bygone era is maintained intact. The design of the lower part of the gardens is from the Renaissance period. The main house built in 1568 and known as the Cardinal’s building counts 130 rooms while the trompe l’oeil masterpiece known as the Queen’s Pavilion, inaugurated in 1860 has 31 rooms. In 1873 the two Villas combined into one property became Villa d’Este. Every air conditioned room is different both in size, decor and period furniture. The two most outstanding landmarks are the 500 year old plane tree and the 16th century Mosaic with its Nympheum.

Apart from the topiary hedges and the bushes of bamboo, azaleas, camellias, oleanders, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, there are roses and jasmine bushes. The trees range from chestnut , magnolia, wisteria, palm, cypress, pine, privet and many others. Relaxation…an important part on any Spa experience, is a special treat at Villa d’Este. Spa is designed to make artful use of the blend of light, color and water to create the proper environment for serenity and relaxation based on Zen philosophy. It is the perfect oasis to replenish mind, body and soul.