Piazza Trento, 1
Viale delle Centro Fontane, Tivoli, Italy
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Synopsis:

The Villa d'Este was the grand residence of Cardinal d'Este, governor of Tivoli. The Villa was originally built in a mannerist style but was subsequently heavily altered during the baroque period. It was designed by Pirro Ligorio and is constructed around a number of prominent myths and allegorical references, as was popular during the mannerist period. Prominent amongst these was the story of the Greek hero Hercules and the rivalry between the cities of Rome and Tivoli, which plaid out in the garden through a series of water features. The Villa d'Este is especially noted for its many impressive water features, taking ample advantage of the plentiful amount of water available in the hills of Tivoli.