Villa d'Este
Renaissance villa in Tivoli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its garden with fountains, grottoes and water games.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Villa d'Este was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este who, after failing to be elected pope, brought back to Tivoli the splendour of the courts of Ferrara, Rome and Fontainebleau. Appointed governor of Tivoli in 1550, after 1560 he entrusted the architectural and iconographic programme to Pirro Ligorio and its execution to Alberto Galvani. The palace was decorated by artists of late Roman Mannerism.
The villa was almost complete at the cardinal's death in 1572. In the 17th century a period of decline began, until the restoration promoted by Cardinal Gustav Adolf von Hohenlohe, who also hosted the composer Franz Liszt.
The Italian state later bought the villa, which was restored and opened to the public between the 1920s and 1930s. Since 2001 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered a masterpiece of the Italian garden, famous for its numerous fountains, grottoes and water games with hydraulic music.
Highlights
- Italian-style garden with fountains and water games
- Fontana dell'Organo, Fontana dei Draghi and Cento Fontane
- Palace with decorations of late Roman Mannerism
- UNESCO site since 2001
Permanent exhibition
- Palazzo e giardino delle fontane – Visit to the decorated rooms of the palace and to the garden with fountains, grottoes and water games such as the Fontana dell'Organo.
- Operated by
- Ministero della Cultura – Istituto autonomo Villa Adriana e Villa d'Este
- Visitors per year
- approx. 485,555
Admission & discounts
Free admission: First Sunday of the month; also on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November; on 8 March, free admission for women.
The site refers visitors to the online ticket office and to on-site sales points for prices; there are tickets and passes dedicated to the Tivoli sites (VILLÆ Pass and VILLÆ 365).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The site refers to a dedicated accessibility section; the garden has sloping paths and steps.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office in Piazza Trento 5. |
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