VILLA D’ESTE: A MAGICAL DAY TRIP FROM ROME TO TIVOLI
Villa d’Este is possibly the best day trip you could take from Rome.
If you’re a person who enjoys nature and history but also wants to escape the swarms of people in the Italian capital, Tivoli is the place to go.
Tivoli is home to one of the most beautiful Renaissance villas in the world, and Villa d’Este is a must-see if you’re in Rome.
Find out how to get to Villa d’Este and what to see there right in this blog post!
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WHERE IS VILLA D’ESTE?
Villa d’Este is in a small town called Tivoli, near Rome. It’s a perfect day trip if you want to see something different from Rome, and all you need is one afternoon.
You can easily reach Tivoli by train. The train ride from Roma Termini station to Tivoli is only 2.60 euros. After a very enjoyable 40-minute ride, you will have a 15-minute walk from the train station to the villa and that’s it!
We bought our tickets on the train there on GetYourGuide, the same ones are linked below!
ABOUT THE VILLA D’ESTE
Villa d’Este is a 16-century villa built for Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este. As Tivoli was a very popular place for a summer residence, the Cardinal wanted a villa of his own there. He asked a famous Italian architect, Pirro Ligorio, to plan and build him something better than anything the Romans had built up until then. Villa d’Este was the result of those plans.
The villa is not only a magnificent building, but it’s extremely popular for its gardens and numerous fountains decorating it.
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WHAT TO SEE IN VILLA D’ESTE
There are many things to see in this 16-century villa, and this blog post is going to include some of the key locations you shouldn’t miss!
Apartments of the Cardinal
Cardinal Ippolito made sure his apartments were one of a kind. The apartments were adorned with art such as paintings and frescos, as well as much gold and silver. The most interesting rooms in the apartments are the Cardinal’s bedroom, the chapel, and the throne room. One of the most beautiful parts of the apartments is the view of the garden and Tivoli in general.
The lower floor of the villa
While the Cardinal stayed on the upper floor, the lower floor was designed for the guests as the Cardinal held receptions there. The lower floor also had numerous well-decorated rooms which acted as Cardinal’s gallery. The lower floor is full of mosaics, frescos, and tapestries all full of religious scenes and symbols.
The Garden
The garden is the most beautiful part of the villa. the villa is a UNESCO heritage site because the garden is exceptional and one of a kind. Along with amazing greenery, the garden has over 50 fountains and even more little water spouts and waterfalls. Let’s go through some of the must-see parts of this incredible garden!
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The Terrace ( the Vialone)
Right in between the villa and the garden, there is a 200 meters long terrace, overlooking the garden below. On one side of the long terrace, you will find a huge loggia called the Cenacolo. From the Cenacolo you have an incredible panoramic view of not only the garden but Tivoli as well. In the middle of the terrace, there is another loggia that has two staircases that lead to the ceremonial rooms on the lower floor. The terrace offers incredible views, but the rest of the garden is even more beautiful.
The Oval Fountain (Fontana dell’Ovato)
The Oval Fountain, or as the Italians call it ‘Fontana dell’Ovato, is one of the first fountains built there, and today it’s one of the most popular. It was designed by the villa’s architect Pirro Ligorio. Above the fountain there is an incredible statue of the Sibyl Albunensa, overlooking the garden. This fountain is one of the nicest parts of the garden and it attracts a lot of tourists. Luckily, the villa isn’t overcrowded most of the time, so you can still properly enjoy the view of the fountain.
The Hundred Fountains (Cento Fontane)
On your way to the Oval Fountain, there is a magnificent view of a path full of fountains. The Hundred Fountains is a set of 3 rows of fountains, each containing around 100 spouts, forming a unique walkway of fountains. The water is seen gushing out of various sculptures emerging from the wall. This was one of my favourite places in the garden because I’ve never seen anything like it. Make sure to stop and enjoy the fountains, as well as take some pictures!
The Fountain of Rometta (Fontana di Rometta)
The fountain of Rometta is the first fountain you’ll see from the Terrace. The lovely fountain represents ancient Rome because the real city of Rome was once visible behind the fountain. The fountain is surrounded by various symbols of ancient Rome, such as the Tiburtina island in the Tiber, the Aniene River, the Apennine mountains, and a wolf nursing the twins.
The Fountain of Neptune (Fontana di Nettuno)
The Fountain of Neptune is one of the most impressive fountains I’ve ever seen, and it’s the paramount fountain in the villa. There are over twelve strong jets shooting water high into the air, some even reaching 45 feet. Across the Fountain of Neptune, there are 3 fish ponds that originally provided fresh food for the Cardinal. Today, they still contain various types of fish and together with the Fountain of Neptune make a picture-perfect scenery.
Overall, Villa d’Este is an incredible day trip from Rome that you really need to take. Have you been there before?
I’ve never been there before, but it looks absolutely amazing! Your photos make me want to visit this place, so I’m adding it to my list for sure.
Truly a gorgeous place. I would want to spend the entire day in the garden. Great post.
What a great idea to visit the Villa D’este on a day trip from Rome. The villa and the grounds are really stunning. Thanks so much for sharing your tips!
What a timely post. I am heading to Rome for a week this fall and am actually contemplating whether or not to visit Tivoli. This post was very helpful. The gardens look incredible. Of course, I would like to see Hadrian’s villa, as well, while there.
The place indeed looks lovely. Definitely worth visiting. That oval fountain looks beautiful.
Villa D’Este is a real gem that a lot of people miss! Thanks a lot for sharing this article and making people know about this fantastic place! The gardens are simply spectacular, especially the Oval fountain!
I think people often overlook this wonderful place, which is such a shame!