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Renaissance
villas and gardens - Tivoli
Some of the most beautiful Renaissance villas and
gardens lie within easy striking range of Rome. We can arrange
for a car and driver (with or without a guide)
to collect you from your hotel and take you to some of the surrounding
gems
in the Rome countryside. We have suggested two possible excursions
which would take a full day; however we are happy to recommend
other possibilities.
Renaissance Villas and Gardens
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Villa Farnese, Caprarola |
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This pentagonal villa
is built on an awe-inspiring scale. Don't miss the
charming secret garden up the hillside. Difficult to
believe it was designed for a Counter-Reformation Cardinal.
Read more |
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Villa Lante, Bagnaia |
The most beautiful formal
garden in Italy. Full of fountains in all shapes and
sizes. Lots of puns on the name of Cardinal Gambers
(prawn in Italian). Watch out for the water-jokes.
Read
more |
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Parco dei Mostri, Bomarzo |
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A park full of strange
sculpture. The cave inside the monstrous fish's mouth
is reputed to have been used for black masses. Salvador
Dali loved this place. Read more |
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DIRECTIONS: All
3 villas are near Viterbo, 80 kms north of Rome, off the
Via
Cassia,
no.2.
Bagnaia is 5 kms east, Bomarzo is 15 kms beyond Bagnaia,
and Caprarola is 20 kms south-east on the Via Cimina.
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Tivoli
Hadrian's Villa |
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The grandest and most evocative villa surviving from
antiquity. The scale of the ruins is gigantic. Many of the buildings
are highly original and exerted a strong influence on Renaissance and
Baroque architects. Read more |
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Villa d'Este
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The most famous of all Renaissance gardens, laid out
for Cardinal d'Este in the mid 16th century. The astonishing fountains
inspired gardeners all over Europe. Read
more |
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DIRECTIONS: Tivoli is 31 kms east
of Rome on Via Tiburtina, no.5. Hadrian's Villa is
just below the town and the Villa d'Este in the town
centre. |
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