The modern town of Tivoli has 60,000 inhabitants and is located 33 kms from Rome. Its citizens claim to live in a city even older than the Eternal City: ancient Tiburn was founded by the Greek Tibur and later conquered by the Roman general Furio Camillo in the IV century BC and connected to Rome by the Tiburtina road (Roman roads were named after their destination or the politician who built it). The so called Temple of Vesta and Temple of the Sybil probably were dedicated to Hercules and Tibur (II cent BC) and stand nowadays next to the Gregorian Villa, by the cliff and the waterfall of the Aniene River. An interesting structure looking like a mini Pantheon and known as the Temple of the cough is visible outside Villa d'Este but not interpreted yet. All three temples were turned into churches in the Middle Age. The Rocca Pia is a castle built by Pope Pious II to protect the land and hosted several important personalities.
Also known as Tivoli Gardens, Villa d'Este was imitated all over the world for its sense of beauty created by the balance and harmony between nature and architecture. Five hundred fountains supplied by the water of Aniene [ani'n] river, a tributary of the Tiber, digging a tunnel of 280 meters. It was commissioned in 1550 by cardinal Ippolito d'Este, a member of the wealthy ferrarese family of Este, after being appointed governor of the town. An old benedictine monastery was turned into a magnificent villa ,inspired by the splendor of imperial residences with specific reference to the nearby Hadrian's villa.
Magnificent renaissance suburban villa where to invite important guests and spend pleasant hours surrounded by nature and the sound of water coming from its spectacular fountains. An oasis of refreshment during the hot and humid summer months.
Designed by the genius of Pirro Ligorio with works of the well known neapolitan
sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the water plays and hydraulic system were designed by Tommaso Ghinucci.
HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
When cardinal Ippolito died in 1572, the villa passed to the properties of the Este family but a few years later, due to the wedding between Beatrice and Ferdinand Asburg, passed to the austrian family and unfortunately was left in decadence until the Italian state acquired it in 1918 and renovation work could then start. The direct branch of the family is extinct today.
The palace has 10 rooms decorated by Livio Agresti, Antonio Tempesta, Cesare Nebbia, Annibale Carracci, Perin del Vega and others representing biblical stories, historical and mythological episodes, result of the education and culture of the cardinal. Este coat of arms is the eagle holding the hesperides apples, one of the labours of Hercules witch is Tivoli and commercial activities protector. The villa has had several special guests: important Popes such Gregory XIII, artists and musicians such as Franz Liszt.
The most famous fountains are:
- Sleeping Venus, at entrance in Piazza s.Maria maggiore
- Fountain of the Bicchierone (big glass; probable design by Bernini)
- Fountain Rometta (little Rome) with statues representing the goddess Roma and its iconic sights.
- Viale (Avenue) of one hundred fountains
- Fontana dell'Ovato (oval) with nymph, Sybil's and pegasus
- Fountain of the hydraulic organ, designed by Claude Vernand, produced pleasant relaxing sound using water, pipes and air. It plays from 10.30 every two hours
- Fountains of Neptune
- Fountain of the dragons, built to honor the visit of pope Gregory XIII.
- Fountain of the night and lowes
- Fountain of the neptune
- Fountain Nature of Artemis from Ephesus
- 3 aquariums
Suggested Restaurant to reserve is:
La Sibilla overlooking the Aniene waterfalls and the trails down to the Gregorian Villa