Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Villa d'Este
( 0774 331 20 70;
www.villadestetivoli.info
;
Piazza Trento; adult/reduced €8.50/4, plus possible exhibi-
tion supplement; 8.30am-1hr before sunset Tue-Sun)
In Tivoli's hilltop centre, the steeply ter-
raced gardens of Villa d'Este are a superlative example of the High Renaissance garden,
dotted by fantastical fountains all powered by gravity alone. The villa, originally a Bene-
dictine convent, was converted into a pleasure palace by Lucrezia Borgia's son, Cardinal
Ippolito d'Este, in 1550. Later, it was home to the composer Franz Liszt who stayed here
between 1865 and 1886 and was inspired to write
To the Cypresses of the Villa d'Este
and
To the Fountains of the Villa d'Este
.
The villa's rich mannerist frescoes merit a glance, but it's the gardens that you're here
for: water-spouting gargoyles and elaborate avenues lined with deep-green, knotty
cypresses and monumental fountains. Look out for the Bernini-designed
Fountain of the Or-
gan
, which uses water pressure to play music through a concealed organ, and the 130m-
long
Avenue of the Hundred Fountains
.
VILLA, GARDEN
TIVOLI IN A DAY
Tivoli makes an excellent day trip from Rome but to cover its two main sites - Villa Adriana and Villa
d'Este - you'll have to start early. The best way to see both is to visit Villa d'Este first, then take the
Rome bus from Piazza Garibaldi, asking the driver to drop you off close to Villa Adriana. After visit-
ing the villa, pick up the bus back to Rome.
Eating
FAST FOOD
€
Da Pippo
(Via San Valerio 2; sandwiches €7.50)
Pippo is famous for his huge (one will feed two)
panini
,
filled with fresh ingredients. Particularly recommended is the Zingaresca, which combines
mozzarella, rocket, parmesan, speck and olive oil, and takes around 30 minutes to prepare.
Getting There & Around
Tivoli is 30km east of Rome and accessible by Cotral bus (€2.20, 50 minutes, every 15
minutes) from outside Ponte Mammolo metro station (line B). To cover you for the whole
day, buy a zone 3 BIRG ticket (€8).
