Cradle of the Italian Renaissance - Tivoli
Bongiorno Italy! Rome - Tivoli. 1:0 in favor of Tivoli!
Even at the stage of preparing a trip to Italy, Tivoli, a small town near Rome, attracted my attention. The attraction was that there is an old villa of Cardinal d'Este, called the Villa of Five Hundred Fountains. I have never seen 500 fountains at the same time in my life. Therefore, when the question arose - to walk one more day in Rome or go to Tivoli, we donated the Eternal City without hesitation, and did not regret it.
On the Internet, the site details the purchase of tickets, how to get to Tivoli and how to get to the villa. Distance Rome - Tivoli - 30 km. You can get there by train or bus:
But our girls went by train the day before and returned at 2 am, which did not suit us at all. Therefore, we decided to still take one elective from Akkord and go straight from the hotel along an already prepared route. The cost of an elective is 23 euros, plus a ticket to the villa 12.50 euros.
To be honest, it was not necessary to take an elective, you can freely get on your own, because the distance is not great. Moreover, the guide was caught with such a poorly delivered speech and a raspy voice that, although with difficulty, I could make out her fiction effects, my husband categorically refused to listen to this, telling me that if you need a photographer, then save me from this granny. So I didn’t listen to the tour from the original source, but when I opened the Internet, I read it there. Yes, in principle, the guide was not needed there. Tivoli is pure charm without a guide, and even without a story.
The most ancient city, was founded in the 13th century BC. e. , that is, several centuries earlier than Rome! And more than two thousand years ago, emperors, philosophers, in general, all local aristocrats walked through the local groves. It was a favorite resting place of the ancient Romans, who were attracted by the clear water and the beauty of the local landscapes. But most of all, the city is famous for its luxurious villas. And here we are waiting for the most beautiful villa - Villa of Cardinal d'Este. Villa d'Este is considered one of the most successful incarnations of gardening art in the world, and that it was she who served as a prototype for the creation of Versailles and Peterhof.
The villa is located on the site of the former Benedict monastery, and it belonged to Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, who was governor of Tivoli. In general, nothing has changed since then, that in those days the governors owned everything, and now all the villas and palaces are in the hands of the “servants of the people”. Hippolytus also became the owner very simply - having been born into a papal family in Rome. At the age of two, he already becomes a bishop, at the age of 10 he receives the rank of archbishop, and at the age of 30 he receives the title of cardinal. But he was never elected Pope, and after such disappointment he leaves Rome and moves to Tivoli, where he creates an unsurpassed masterpiece - a garden and park ensemble and Villa d'Este. The architect was Pirro Ligorio (the author of the ceilings in the papal basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano). An interesting fact is that the building materials were taken from Hadrian's villa. Well, in general, not barbarians, so the governors stole everything that lay badly.
We buy a ticket and enter the villa.
The building itself looks somewhat laconic and gloomy from the outside.
Inside, somehow, desolation and abandonment are also felt.
Either it is not being restored on purpose in order to preserve its authenticity, or there are no funds for this matter. When you start to peer and pay attention to the little things, the picture becomes more cheerful. For example, the windows and doors painted on the walls are interestingly modeled in the interior.
The walls are decorated with tapestries, frescoes and moldings.
Painted ceilings also look pretty in principle.
We pass through a series of rooms: a living room, a fireplace room, bedrooms, corridors. Remnants of former luxury are everywhere.
In the right wing we pass through a small chapel decorated with stucco.
Apparently, once it was very beautiful and cozy here, now it is gloomy and cold-desert. In general, the interior of the villa does not impress much.
But on the other hand, a park of extraordinary beauty with majestic staircases decorated with antique statues, picturesque alleys and magnificent fountains makes a huge impression!
Let's go to the observation balcony - what a beauty around!
Fountain "Tripodium".
The fountains here are all completely different, and there are as many as 500 of them - can you imagine all this polyphony?!
While admiring the fountains, I am amazed at the fact that the ancient Romans had such engineering knowledge. Under the villa there is a huge cistern, which receives water from the river through viaducts and aqueducts, and all this is started and set in motion by various mechanisms. And after all, Tivoli is in the mountains, all dotted with ravines and caves.
A very unusual fountain in the form of a sculpture of some woman, but for some reason with hooves. This character is unknown to me : )
The Ovato Fountain is topped by a statue of the Sibyl.
The Draghi Fountain is guarded by dragons.
The Bichierone Fountain is in the shape of a shell.
The "Organ" Fountain is made in the form of a huge organ, which, like an organ, once emitted wonderful musical melodies created by water flows passing through pipes. The architect of the Organ and Bichierone fountains was the famous Lorenzo Bernini. Look how beautiful!
One of the park's most impressive fountains is the Neptune Fountain with a cascading curtain of water currents called the Boiling Staircase.
Fountain of the Goddess of Nature - Diana of Ephesus. Nature is abundance, so she has a lot of breasts, but for some reason the hand was left alone, apparently tired of giving everything to everyone.
Walking along the Hundred Fountains Road, you enjoy the freshness and coolness, rejoicing at the absence of the Roman heat. It's hot in Rome right now, and we're here in Tivoli, in a natural oasis, listening to the birds singing and contemplating the beauty.
I am very glad that we sacrificed one day of walking around Rome and came to this small Italian town, where we experienced heavenly pleasure.
The villa, of course, is not an example of style and beauty, but the park with fountains is amazing!! ! I really recommend to everyone who will be in Rome to see this Italian gem, you won't regret it, I promise! Hence the title of the story "1:0 in favor of Tivoli"!
From the observation decks, breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings open up.
Splashes of water play in the sun and envelop you with their coolness.
There are so-called ponds everywhere.
From the observation deck near the ponds, views of the entire city open up.
And here, in the gardens of the villa, there is even a "little Rome", which is the composition "La Rometta", which personifies the seven Roman hills. There are many different fountains, grottoes and reservoirs, and this composition is one of the most beautiful sights both in Tivoli and in all of Italy.
And this is the Owl Fountain. Why an owl? Where is the owl?
Ah. . . It turns out that earlier it was a whole attraction, when, thanks to complex mechanisms that launched a fountain, owls appeared on branches in unexpected places to the sound of a flute. Can you imagine?? ? Why not now? Who canceled? Mess : )
At the top there are coats of arms with lilies on them. I can't imagine Italy without lilies.
Very interesting niches where fountains seem to gush from within.
And there are such unusual fountains called "Sweating Heaps", or "Mete Sudante".
Five terraces are located below, along the edges of which streams of water flow, and therefore all the sculptures here are overgrown with moss, but you feel amazing freshness!
Already at the exit from the villa, we are met by such a man with a funny muzzle.
This is the Bacchus Fountain.
At the moment, there is some kind of avant-garde exhibition inside the villa. To be honest, I did not quite understand the purpose. Perhaps another element of the entourage in order to attract interest in viewing the villa (if this garbage can attract anyone at all).
Well, these are already interesting.
After viewing the exhibition and looking out the window, you immediately want to run away to the gardens.
If we compare the gardens and fountains of Versailles and Villa d'Este, then the gardens in Versailles, of course, are more beautiful and larger, but as for the fountains, I would still put the fountains in Tivoli in the first place.
Another attraction of Tivoli is the Pio's Papal Fortress. Built back in the 15th century, it attracts attention and has a certain artistic value.
There is also an old church here.
If it weren't for the timing of the group's departure, I probably would have also returned to Rome at two in the morning, but there's nothing to be done, we chose such a trip ourselves. But I advise everyone else to go to Tivoli for the whole day, there is something to see here. In addition to Villa d'Este, there are two more magnificent villas and many churches, and the walk along the streets of the ancient Roman city itself will bring you a lot of impressions and pleasure.
