What is Villa d’Este
Villa d’Este is a 16th century house and garden in the centre of Tivoli, and is famous as a stunning example of Renaissance architecture and garden design. Commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, the villa was originally intended to be a luxurious private residence. The architect behind the garden’s design, Pirro Ligorio, was also a classical scholar, and his designs were strongly influenced by antiquity and, in particular, the nearby ruins of Hadrian’s Villa. The gardens are renowned for their spectacularly theatrical array of fountains, featuring ornate statues and grottoes.
Today Villa d’Este is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and state museum, and a visit to the villa is a popular day trip from Rome.
History of Villa d’Este
Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este was extraordinarily wealthy, and in 1550 he was in need of a residence that was both grand enough for his tastes, and large enough to accommodate his expanding household. He chose Tivoli for various reasons – the cooler summer climate, the abundance of natural water supplies, and its proximity to Hadrian’s Villa – and then commissioned the construction of the villa and gardens.
A huge team of distinguished artists and architects contributed to the construction of Villa d’Este. The building work took 20 years due to the Cardinal’s work commitments in Rome and the lawsuits of locals in Tivoli who were unhappy about the demolition of their houses to make way for the villa. D’Este stopped at nothing to achieve his dream of creating a villa even more extravagant than Hadrian’s, even diverting the nearby river to supply water for the multitude of fountains.
D’Este only got to enjoy his new home for a few years, hosting visits from artists, writers, philosophers, and the Pope until his death in 1572. Over the following centuries the villa continually changed owners, most of whom did little to maintain the house and gardens. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the dilapidated building was finally renovated, and the overgrown garden restored to its former glory. After the First World War Villa d’Este became the property of the Italian state and underwent further renovations, eventually opening to the public.